Eid-ul-Fitr being celebrated in somber mood amid COVID-19 pandemic

223

DHAKA, May 14, 2021 (BSS)- The holy Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the greatest religious festivals of Muslims, is being celebrated today in a somber mood amid coronavirus pandemic across the country.

As the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh on Wednesday evening, the Eid festival is being celebrated on Friday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee with state minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan in the chair on Wednesday evening after reviewing the information of Shawwal moon sighting.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the nation in separate messages on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation at 7:15pm on Thursday.

The festival is celebrated in line with the government’s instructions including maintaining physical distancing, avoiding mass gathering and abiding by the health rules as the country, like other world states, is at risk of the fatal COVID-19 outbreak.

The Eid is celebrated with due solemnity, fervor and gaiety as the holy Ramadan, the month of fasting and abstinence, came to an end and the people remained themselves confined in houses after offering Eid prayers to the nearest mosques in their vicinities.

Eid-ul-Fitr is an Arabic word meaning “festival of breaking the fast”. The festival marks an end to the Muslims fasting month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the holy Ramadan.

On the Eid day morning, Muslims gather at mosques and prayer venues to perform Eid prayers and greet each other. The festival is usually celebrated by visiting friends and relatives, hosting food parties and sharing sweets. Children not only get new clothes and shoes, but also receive cash gifts called “Salami” from their elders, relatives and well-wishers.

The occasion is seen as a time of forgiveness and of giving thanks to Allah for helping people complete their month-long spiritual fasting. Many Muslims distribute cash and food to the less fortunate ones.

But, this year, the Eid-ul-Fitr is beingcelebrated in a somber manner as the government has imposed a strict restriction on all social gatherings and urged the devotees to celebrate the Eid with only family members indoors instead of visiting relatives’ houses and outing around in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

In line with the government directives, Dhaka north and south city corporations decided not to hold any Eid jamaat (congregation) on open spaces, including at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises, in the capital.

Besides, the historic Eid jamaat at the Sholakia Maidan in Kishoreganj has also been cancelled this year amid the COVID-19 situation.

However, five Eid jamaats were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque today like every year.

President M Abdul Hamid along with his family members and some senior government officials offered Eid-ul-Fitr’s prayers at Darbar hall of Bangabhaban here at 10.30 am, President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.

A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of Bangladesh and welfare of the people as well as the Muslim Ummah.

A total of five Eid jamaats were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque today like every year.

The first Eid jamaat was held at 7 am followed by other four congregations at the same venue to help the devotees perform Eid prayers maintaining the social distancing and health guidelines properly.

The second, third, fourth and fifth Jamaats were held at 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 10.45 am respectively while separate Imams of the national mosque conducted those.

Following the eid-jamaat, special doa was also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of those who died of fatal COVID-19 and also wishing for the early recovery of the Corona patients throughout the country as well as across the globe.