ZCZC
BSS-26
COVID-19-EID-CELEBRATION
Bangladesh set for Eid celebrations chafing under COVID-19 shutdown
by Syed Altefat Hossain
DHAKA, May 24, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladeshi Muslims are set to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festival bidding farewell tomorrow to the fasting month of Ramadan chafing under COVID-19 shutdown like millions of fellow followers of the faith under strict stay-at-home orders.
The Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest Muslim festival this year appeared very unlikely to resemble that of previous years as many countries banned the traditional Eid congregations as part of anti-coronavirus measures.
Bangladesh authorities urged people to stay in their current abodes discarding plans for larger family gatherings at their ancestral homes as part of the desperate measures to prevent COVID-19 spread.
Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr with millions under strict stay-at-home orders and many fearing renewed coronavirus outbreaks.
Some Muslim majority countries planed to allow the mass prayers on open fields or indoors in mosques or large halls, measuring which one could ensure physical distancing.
The Muslims this year tend to skip centuries old practice of hugging each other following Eid prayers to comply with health directives against COVID-19.
In Saudia Arabia, mosques will broadcast the call to Eid prayers, but no worshippers will be allowed to attend with authorities asking people to perform the prayers at home, following the practices throughout the Ramadan this year.
Many Muslim-majority countries such as Turkey, Qatar and Indonesia suspended most Eid-related activities, including morning prayers while media reports suggested countries with minority Muslim populations would also celebrate the festival under lockdowns and related restrictions.
Indonesia, with largest Muslim population in the globe, however, allowed public prayers but strictly asked participants to wear masks and keep social distancing while many like in Bangladesh are forced to spend the day away from their families due to travel restrictions.
The glimmering crescent moon of Shawwal in twilight sky always bears happiness when children in particular get new clothes and cash “salami” from elders, relatives and well-wishers, but the coronavirus onslaughts changed the scenario.
The government has imposed strict restriction on all the social activities and urged the Muslim devotees to celebrate the Eid with only family members indoors instead of visiting relatives’ houses and outing around in a bid to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
The fatal virus even forced the government to impose restriction on holding the main ritual of the Eid-ul-Fitr in the open space or Eidgahs, which is the main attraction of the festival that create the largest social gathering and help exchange greetings with each other from single place.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday issued a 14-point instruction allowing the congregations to be held indoors in mosques maintaining cautions asking devotees have to perform ablution from home before coming for Eid prayers, instead of using mosque ablution rooms.
DMP called upon the city dwellers to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with family members at home and advised all to refrain from visiting relatives, neighbours, and entertainment spots in the city amid the risk of transmission of coronavirus.
The instructions also said devotees would have to perform ablution from home before coming for Eid prayers, instead of using ablution room of the mosques.
Earlier, on May 14, the Religious Affairs Ministry issued a circular asking the authorities concerned to hold Eid Jamaat of the Eid-ul-Fitr at nearby mosques instead of Eidgahs or open space aiming to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The ministry also urged the Muslims not to hug each other after Eid-ul-Fitr prayers.
BSS/SPL/SAH/TAN/AR/1700