Alvida Jummah prayers offered at homes across NCR this time

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: Following guidelines of Islamic organisations and the district police, people across Noida and Ghaziabad offered Alvida Jummah prayers at home on Friday. Cops also kept a strict vigil around mosques and public spaces. Drones were used in some parts of the district to keep an eye. Eid-ul-Fitr is to be celebrated either on Sunday or Monday, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Mufti Abdul Vase from Nai Abadi’s Abu Haneefa mosque said he has personally sent out messages to his followers on WhatsApp, urging people not to offer prayers in groups or at public places, “There will be no more than 3-4 people in the mosque for prayers, similarly others have been advised to stay homes and offer prayers with the family. Also, we have asked people to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with family members only and also avoid shopping in busy markets,” he said.
Well, people are also keen on celebrating Eid in a different way this year. Ikhlakh Abbasi, a resident of Dadri, said he has been helping migrant workers with food and masks daily for the past one month, “We are going to dedicate this Ramzan to the needy and those who are in distress. On Eid this time, we will remain at home with our family and planning to connect to relatives through video-conferencing instead of meeting them in person,” he said.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, DCP (Zone III), said they have made public announcements and held peace meetings, in which religious leaders have been urged to help them enforce social distancing. “As far as Eid celebrations are concerned, people are not allowed to gather for any social congregation, the violators will be punished under IPC Section 188,” he said.
Similar instructions have been given to people in Ghaziabad also. Md Zameer, the imam at Islam Nagar mosque, have already told his followers that no congregational prayer services will be conducted at mosques on ‘Alvida Jummah’ and Eid this year.
“As all the mosques are closed, so this year no one from mosques will lead the Eid prayers also,” he said. Heavy police force was deployed outside the mosques on Friday. The district magistrate and the SSP also carried out inspections at several mosques. Kalanidhi Naithani, the SSP, said he has already asked all SHOs of the district to conduct a peaceful meeting with all imams and community people to maintain law and order. “Over a thousand cops will be deployed outside the mosques and other sensitive areas during Eid-ul-Fitr.”