Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

Though the unseasonal rains brought down temperatures across the Kashmir Valley and played spoilsports with the festivities and the hustle and bustle in the makets in the run up to the Eid-ul-Fitre, preparations are going on in full swing for the big day that marks the end of the month-long fasting for Muslims across the world.

As the Grand Mufti of J&K, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam announced on Thursday night that the Moon of Shaww, the 11the month of the Islamic Calendar was not sighted ond and therefore Eid across J&K will be celebrated on Saturday, various shrines and mosques announced the timing of congregational Eid Namaz for Saturday.

These announcements, in turns, are being widely circulated and shared in social media.

People thronging local bakery shops in Srinagar on the eve of Eid

However, inclement weather during the past five days played a spoilsport dampening the spirits of those making most of the discounted sales of clothes, shoes, crockery etc. on the festival. However even than the markets in Srinagar remained abuzz with activities while sale of mutton, chicken, bakery and other edibles remained high.

The holy fasting month of Ramazan had begun on a confusing note when the J&K Grand Mufti announced to begin it from March 24, subsequently revising his announcement.

 Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson of the J&K Waqf Boad, said authorities have  made all arrangements for Eid prayers at Hazratbal and other shrines and mosques across Kashmir valley.

She had recently announced here that if weather permitted, Eid prayers would be held at the Eidgah Srinagar. Even as the administration was yet to decide on allowing Eid prayers at the Eidgah, it would not be possible in view of the inclement weather since Sunday last.

 In case of bad weather conditions, Eid namaz is being offered inside the shrines and mosques.

The local newspapers have started announcing timings of Eid namaz of shrines and mosques across the valley.

One such list, shared on the social media, contained close to 200 such mosques, which have already issued the Eid namaz timings from across the valley.

Anjuman Auqaf, Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, has announced its Namaz timing at 9 a.m. at the mosque “due to inclement weather and water logging at Eidgah”.  The Nimaz at Hazratbal shrine, where a large gathering is expected to converge, is being offered at 10-30 a.m., it has been announced.

Shopping in full swing in Srinagar

Meanwhile, various leaders of political parties and senior officers of the administration have already extended greetings and felicitations to the people and prayed for peace and prosperity on the occasion.

Expressing joy and happiness over the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has expressed hope that the festival would be a harbinger of peace and prosperity in J&K more so Kashmir valley. It has extended warm greetings to the people of J&K and particularly the majority Muslim community.

In a statement Chairman of the APSCC, Jagmohan Singh Raina hoped that it would further strengthen the bonds between different communities living harmoniously in UT J&K. He said that the people belonging to different communities, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Budhists have had age-old bonds of living together in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The peaceful and harmonious nature of living together in this UT is an outstanding feature of Jammu and Kashmir.

A roadside vendor seeking attention of shoppers in Srinagar's lal Chowk

on Senior leaders of the National Conference including its President and MP from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah extended warm greetings to people on the joyous occasion of Eid ul Fitr. “I extend my warm wishes to people on the auspicious occasion praying that the Almighty accepts our month-long fasting, repentance, prayers and rectitude. 

"I urge the affluent class in the society to help those who do not have any resources to celebrate the Eid. The prevailing situation has regrettably increased the social gap with uncertainty looming large over the poorest of poor, daily wagers, marginal farmers pushing them to the brink of hunger. On the auspicious occasion of Eid ul Fitr, the well off in our society should lend all support to the people in need”, Farooq Abdullah stated.

A young woman getting her hands painted in a beauty saloon in Srinagar 

Former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, in his message said Eid-ul- Fitr is a most significant event in the Islamic Calendar which is observed after completion of the holy month of fasting. Those who observe completely fast to please Almighty Allah are being rewarded with the special gift bestowed upon them in the shape of Eid-ul-Fitr. “I send my heartiest greeting to people on the auspicious occasion and hope that the Eid will usher in an era of happiness and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing a smile on the face of people”.

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On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri extended his greetings to the people of Kashmir. In his festival message, the Divisional Commissioner prayed that this Eid brings peace and prosperity and espouses harmony among citizens. He said this festival teaches us to share happiness with poor and needy people by offering charity generously