Low-key celebrations marked Bakrid (Eid al-Adha) in India on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic, confining the festivities to homes.
Normally, people on the occasion greet each other with hugs but this time people are wishing each other -- Eid Mubarak -- keeping in mind the importance of social distancing to combat the virus.
The faithful also wore face covers as they visited mosques to offer prayers.
IMAGE: Jama Masjid in Old Delhi attracted sizeable number of people for the early morning namaz. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo
IMAGE: Members of the Muslim community, maintaining social distancing, offer namaz at Jumma Masjid in Ahmedabad. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: A man with his children poses for a photograph after offering namaz at Jama Masjid in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Muslims offer namaz at historical Taj-ul-Masajid in Bhopal. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: 'We are adhering to the orders passed by the administration of maintaining social distancing at the mosque. There is a stark difference in the celebrations this year and last year because of the pandemic. But despite all of this, we have come here to read the namaz,' a devotee said. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Eid al-Adha celebrations in Kashmir were a low-key affair as most of the faithful marked the festival of sacrifice by offering prayers in small groups.
Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com
IMAGE: While Eid al-Fitr prayers could not be offered in May this year due to the coronavirus lockdown, Eid al-Azha prayers could not be offered last year in Kashmir as authorities had imposed restrictions in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 and division of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com
IMAGE: Women offer namaz outside a shrine during the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, in Srinagar. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Shahi Imam Mufti Mukarram of Fatehpuri Masjid in New Delhi said, "People observed social distancing and wore masks in the mosque during namaz. The mosque was full, but the number was less than previous years, as people were not allowed to offer namaz on the streets.
Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com
IMAGE: Police personnel stand guard outside a mosque during the complete lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo
