Lucknow, Nov 17 (IANS) Thousands of Muslims converged at mosques and prayer grounds here to offer Eid-ul-Azha prayers Wednesday morning. And then it was time for merrymaking and feeding the poor.
The biggest crowds were seen at the Aishbagh Eidgah, the biggest prayer ground in this Uttar Pradesh capital, and the Aasifi Masjid – both in the old Lucknow city.
After congregational prayers, Muslims embraced each other and sacrificed animals, particularly goats, and later distributed the meat among family, friends and the poor.
‘We prayed to Allah to protect us from all evil…I also prayed for the longevity of my parents and dear friends,’ Naeem Ansari, who offered namaz at Aishbagh Eidgah, told IANS.
Eid-ul-Zuha, popularly known as Bakr-Eid, is a festival of sacrifice.
‘It is a very important festival for Muslim brothers across the globe…We wished that all our brothers live happily…Eid-ul-Zuha reminds us about Prophet’s Ibrahim’s sacrifice,’ said Mohd Alam, a resident of Aminabad locality.
Dressed in colourful clothes, people visited each other, exchanged gifts and greetings and shared delicacies.
Adequate security arrangements were made across Uttar Pradesh for Eid-ul-Azha.
‘A total of 10 companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), 34 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed in parts of Uttar Pradesh,’ Brij Lal, additional director general of police, (Law and Order), told reporters here.
