Delhiites enjoy Eid-ul-Azha fervour

Eid-ul-Azha was on Wednesday celebrated across the national capital with traditional fervour and gaiety.

Thousands of Muslims thronged various mosques in the city, including Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid, to offer prayers and greeted ‘Eid Mubarak’ by hugging each other.

After the prayers, they sacrificed animals to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to Allah.The faithfuls dressed in traditional fineries then visited homes of their friends and relatives and exchanged gifts. They also distributed the meat of the sacrificed animals among friends, neighbours, relatives and the poor.

Eid-ul-Azha, also known as Bakr-Id, is celebrated by Muslims across the world as the festival of sacrifice, approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan, which is celebrated as Eid-ul-Fitr. The festival comes a day after the devout participating in Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, descend from Mount Arafat.

Meanwhile, Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung celebrated Eid with the old, mentally and physically challenged and homeless people at a government-run destitute home in Lampur.Jung visited Sewa Sadan Complex, run by Delhi government’s Department of Social Welfare, and spent a good part of the morning talking to them and listening to their experiences, a statement from Raj Bhawan said.

He wished the residents and others present at the Sewa Sadan complex on the occasion of Eid and exhorted the officials to extend all care and support to them.

Lt Guv meets homeless

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday spent the Eid-ul-Azha morning with inmates of Sewa Sadan Complex which houses mentally and physically ill senior citizens.

“He celebrated the auspicious occasion of Eid by paying a visit to the complex which is run by the department of social welfare, government of Delhi,” said an official statement. “He spent time talking to them and listening to their experiences,” it added.