Telugu States celebrate Eid-ul-Adha with fervour

Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, was celebrated with religious fervour across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Braving rains, Muslims in Hyderabad and in other cities and towns of Telangana and in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh offered Eid prayers. After the prayers, Muslims sacrificed goats or cattle commemorating the great sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim.

The day began with Muslims, attired in their best, offering Eid prayers. The early morning rains forced devotees at many places to offer ‘namaz’ in mosques instead of Eidgahs or open grounds. Tens of thousands of people offered prayers in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana and all 13 districts of the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

During their speeches before ‘namaz’, the Imams exhorted Muslims to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and follow Prophet Ibrahim, who



offered to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail to please Allah. The Almighty replaced Ismail with a sheep just as Ibrahim was about to sacrifice him. Also known as Bakri-id or Eid-e-Qurban, it is the second major festival of Muslims.

The historic Mecca Masjid, Madannapet Eidgah, Hockey Ground Masab Tank and Military Ground Mehdipatnam witnessed other big congregations. Prayers were also held at hundreds of mosques in the city. Tight security arrangements were made in the communally sensitive Old City of Hyderabad in view of the ongoing Ganesh festivities, which will conclude with the annual immersion processions on Thursday.

Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy visited the Old City to review the security arrangements. The Eid was also celebrated in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Adilabad, Warangal and other towns of Telangana.