Srinagar: Muslims across Kashmir on Friday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the culmination of holy fasting month of Ramzan, with traditional fervour and gaiety as thousands offered prayers at mosques and shrines in the Valley.
Largest Eid congregation prayers were offered at Eidgah here where thousands of people assembled with second largest at Hazratbal Dargah.
However, celebrations were briefly disrupted as a group of youth started stone pelting at security force personnel in some parts of old city here after Eid prayers.
“Police had to resort to tear gas shelling and baton charge to restore order in Eidgah, Safakadal and adjoining areas resulting in minor injuries to few protestors, “said eye witnesses.
Dressed in their best, men, women and children made a beeline to the nearest Eidgah and mosque to offer Eid prayers as a mark of thanksgiving to Allah.
The fasting month of Ramzan came to an end Thursday evening after the sighting of Shawwal moon.
The largest congregation for Eid prayers was held at Eidgah in the downtown city. However, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was not allowed to deliver the sermon in his capacity as the head priest of Kashmir and had been put under house arrest on Thursday at his residence Nigeen. Nearly one lakh people are estimated to have offered prayers there. However, he addressed gathering over phone.
The second largest congregation was at Hazratbal where officials said more than 60,000 faithfuls offered Eid prayers and shrine of Syed Yaqoob Shah at Sonwar.
Reports of Eid prayers were also received from in all major mosques and Eidgah in other districts of Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region.
Thousands of people offered prayers at Baramulla, Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama and Kupwara districts, the reports said.
Children in fancy dresses made their way to gardens and parks in the city soon after the prayers. Youth burst crackers to celebrated the occasion.
Elders gave eidyan (token money) to their children and visited relatives to exchange greetings and wishes.
Meanwhile, authorities on Thursday continued the restrictions over the movement of separatist leaders including chairmen of both factions Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.