Eid-ul-Fitr 2020: Celebrations Behind Closed Doors, PM Modi Greets 'Eid Mubarak'

According to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, all public gatherings, religious or social has been restricted. Hence, no mass Namaz offerings are allowed in the country.

New Delhi:  Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated all across the country today after Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid confirmed that moon was sighted on Sunday night. Eid 2020 will be a lot different than every year due to the pandemic coronavirus. Celebrations will be behind closed doors while Eid greetings will be limited to phone calls and video calls because of restrictions in Lockdown 4.0.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his greetings on this festival of harmony.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there shall be no mass namaz at mosques all over India since the government has prohibited all religious gatherings. States have also made appeals to follow the lockdown restrictions strictly.

States prepare for Eid Celebrations

In Rajasthan, Muslim relegious leaders have appealed to the community to avoid social gatherings and stay at home. The state administration deployed additional security personnel to ensure strict compliance to social-distancing norms. While extending greetings to the people on the eve of Eid, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to the community to follow lockdown norms and maintain social-distancing on the occasion.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari also greeted people of Maharashtra on the eve of Eid-Ul-Fitr and appealed to them to stay indoors. "Eid Mubarak to all citizens of Maharashtra, especially to Muslim brothers and sisters. The holy month of Ramzan attaches utmost importance of fasting, prayers and charity," he said. The governor said the challenge posed by the coronavirus disease has underscored the importance of charity. "I appeal to the people to celebrate Eid by staying at home and observing all government guidelines. May Eid-Ul-Fitr bring happiness, good health and prosperity to all," he said.

However, Eid was celebrated yesterday in Kerala as the 30-day Ramadan month ended on Saturday.

Brotherhood seen across the country

Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, lot of brotherhood was seen across the country. A number of members of Sikh community, 'United Sikhs'- a civil rights and humanitarian non-profit organization, sanitized the Jama Masjid on Sunday.

Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Ahmed Shah Bukhari said this is the need of the hour in the nation that people take care of each other.

"The way people from Sikh community sanitised the Jama Masjid is the beauty of this nation. Amid the fight against the coronavirus, it is very important to help each other. I hope this beauty of the nation is maintained," the Shahi Imam said.

Not just in Delhi but Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu has been serving sehri and iftari during the holy month of Ramadan to around 500 Muslims who were quarantined at the Aashirwad Bhawan as it was converted into a quarantine centre.

It should be noted that for a whole month, Muslims around the world fast, which is called roza, and offer prayers while practising self-discipline. They do charitable acts like feeding the poor and giving them alms. Normally, Eid is a joyous occasion wherein families and friends get together to celebrate the day. Upon the sighting of moon, they wish each other ‘Eid Mubarak’ and exchange hugs and gifts. People wear new clothes and step out. This year, however, because of the pandemic, certain restrictions are in place and Eid will naturally be different.

Eid celebrations across the world

Muslims around the world started the Eid celebrations on Sunday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, with millions under strict stay-at-home orders and many fearing renewed coronavirus outbreaks. This year, many of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims will have to pray at home and make due with video calls.

Some countries, including Turkey, Iraq and Jordan, have imposed round-the-clock holiday curfews. But even where many restrictions have been lifted, celebrations will be subdued because of fears of the pandemic and its economic fallout.

Saudi Arabia, home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, is under a complete lockdown, with residents only permitted to leave their homes to purchase food and medicine.

Iran, which is battling the deadliest outbreak in the Middle East, allowed communal prayers at some mosques but cancelled the annual mass Eid prayers in Tehran led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has reported over 130,000 cases and more than 7,000 deaths.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, has reported nearly 22,000 infections and 1,350 fatalities, the most in Southeast Asia. Lockdown orders intended to contain the pandemic mean there will be no congregational prayers at mosques or even open fields, no family reunions, no relatives bearing gifts for children.