Eid prayers passed off peacefully across Jammu and Kashmir

The largest Eid gathering in Kashmir was held at Hazratbal shrine where thousands of people offered prayers.

Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah also offered prayers at the shrine.

Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramazan, is celebrated for two days in the Valley.

Male members of the family visit houses of all their friends and relatives for two days on the occasion of Eid.

No Eid congregational prayers were allowed at Jamia Masjid and Eidgah in old Srinagar due to a face-off between the authorities and the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the managing body of the historic mosque.

People, however, offered prayers in neighbourhood mosques in the old city.

This is for the third straight year that no prayers were held at Eidgah venue and Jamia mosque in Srinagar.

For the last two years, due to Covid outbreak, the Eid congregational prayers were not held at these venues.

Security men were deployed in strength around Eidgah venue and it was completely sealed by the forces, witnesses said.

The administration had made it clear that Eid prayers would not be allowed at the Eidgah to maintain law and order.

The district administration had suggested to Anjuman Auqaf Jamia to arrange Eid prayers at 7 am, however they refused to accept the administration's suggestion.

The Auqaf had announced to hold the congregational prayers at 9.30 a.m Large Eid congregations were held at all district headquarters and towns, officials said. Officials said an isolated incident of stone-pelting was reported in Anantnag town in south Kashmir after the congregational prayers.

The situation was, however, quickly brought under control.

(With UNI inputs)