Around 25 lakh Muslims celebrated Eid-al-Adha or Bakri Eid in this metropolis and Rs 5 lakh monetary assistance was pledged towards the flood victims.
The spirit of the festival was dampened in the western part of Maharashtra as massive floods had wrecked havoc at those places in the past weeks.
“We urged Muslims to make token sacrifices and the money saved donated for the Maharashtra flood relief operations. We have collected around Rs 5,00,000 which will be donated to CM’s Relief Fund for the flood victims,” said an NGO activist Iqbal Ansari.
Over 500 mosques dotting this city and adjoining suburbs were flooded in with devotees,who reached to offer Eid’s congregational prayers,followed by the ritual of animals sacrifice.
“The namaz could not be offered at the historic Azad Maidan and the YMCA Grounds in south Mumbai hence the crowds were accommodated in shifts for the prayer at various other mosques in Mumbai,” stated a senior Urdu journalist.
The role of the civic body-Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC)-was lauded for ensuring hygiene norms and extending required facilities.
“The BMC vans were waiting to pick up all the wastes immediately instead of waiting for the people to dispose it off in public dustbins. All sacrifice areas were fully covered to ensure the religious sentiments of brothers and sisters of other communities,” said NGO activist Ansari.
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place so that Eid-al-Adha, usually celebrated for three days, culminates on a peaceful note.
(UNI)
