Hyderabad: Mecca Masjid, Shahi Masjid thrown open to public with restrictions

HYDERABAD: Finally after a gap of five months, the historical Mecca Masjid near Charminar and Royal Mosque (Shahi Masjid) at Public Gardens were thrown open for the public on Saturday.
After the State Wakf Board’s decision to open the two big mosques of Hyderabad, the places of worship were opened for offering five times prayers with strict adherence to MHA guidelines. On Saturday, the mosques were opened from pre-dawn prayers (Fajr) to night prayers (Isha). Though devotees thronged for prayers, only fifty persons were allowed inside the mosques. The regular Imams of the mosques led the prayers in the open shed erected in the vicinity of the places of worship with two meter physical distancing. However, the administration has avoided arranging Namaz in the actual structure due to ventilation issues.
Though the government decided to open the mosques with the condition of maximum 50 devotees in the initial days but from September 21, there will be permission for 100 devotees. Automatic hand sanitisers have been fixed at the entrance and each person is being screened. Children less than 10 years of age and elderly people aged above 60 years will not be allowed in the mosques.