After a month of fasting, Muslims in the districts of Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Uttar Kannada districts assembled in large number at various Idgah maidans in their respective places to offer mass prayers on account of Id-ul-Fitr, the festival of Ramzan.
Id-ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan. It is celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety by Muslims who wear new clothes and offer mass prayers and also give away zakat.
Thousands of people offered mass prayers at the Idgah maidans across the major cities and towns of the four districts, where Muslim religious heads addressed gatherings.
Subsequently, devout Muslims donated money and gifts to the poor, which is an integral part of the celebrations.
Hundreds of poor from different communities waited near the Idgah maidans in anticipation of donation. Members of some of the mosque committees also gathered near the Idgah maidans seeking donation for the development of mosques and other religious activities. Across these districts, where heavy bandobast was made as a precautionary measure, members of other communities too visited the Idgah maidans to exchange greetings with their Muslim brethren.
At the two Idgah Maidans in what is identified as communally sensitive Hubballi and where heavy restrictions were imposed on the movement of vehicles and people, large gatherings were witnessed.
At the Idgah Maidan located adjacent to the landmark Kittur Chennamma Circle, thousands of Muslims offered prayers and later exchanged greetings.
The former Minister A.M. Hindasageri, the former president of Anjuman-e-Islam Mohammed Yousuf Savanur, the former Chairman of Hubballi Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) Anwar Mudhol, Congress leaders Altaf Hallur, Babajan Mudhol and others were prominent among the participants.
Non-Muslim leaders, including MLA Prasad Abbayya, Chairman of NWKRTC Sadanand Danganavar and others greeted their Muslim brethren after the prayers. Police Commissioner M.N. Nagaraj, who was overseeing the security arrangements, too greeted the leaders.
As has been the practice for decades, several Muslim leaders, led by Mr. Hindasageri, visited the Moorusavir Mutt.
They were blessed and greeted by Sri Gurusiddha Rajayogindra Swami. Similarly, at the Idgah Maidan in Old Hubballi, thousands offered prayers.
On account of mass prayers, the Old KSRTC Bus Station near Kittur Chennamma Circle was temporarily shut and the operations were shifted to the nearby Indira Glass House. After the crowd dispersed, the bus station resumed functioning and all road restrictions were removed.