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Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

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Id celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety

ID MUBARAK... .Children greeting each other on the occasion of Id-ul-Zuha, in Patna on Friday. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

SRINAGAR, JAN 21 . Despite snowfall, the Id-ul-Zuha was today celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety throughout the Kashmir valley aand Ladakh region.

Id prayers were offered throughout the valley and Leh and Kargil.

However, the main congregations were held at holy shrine of Hazrartbal, historic Jamia Mosque, Hazrat Mehboobul Aalam, Hazrat Mir Syed Yaqub Sonawar and Tourist Reception Centre mosque.

The prayers followed slaughtering of thousands of sheep and goats, symbolising the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim to seek the pleasure of God.

People in traditional dresses were seen greeting each other on the occasion.

The authorities had made special arrangement for the detenues to offer prayers in the detention centres where security personnel belonging to Muslim community also joined them.

Special arrangements were also made for the family members of detenues for their meeting. Authorities have also allowed food for the detenues brought by their family members.

Jammu and Kashmir governor General (Retd.) S K Sinha and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed have greeted the people on the occasion of Id.

Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was among thousands who offered Id prayers at the Jamia Masjid. The special Id prayers at Hazratbal shrine was led by local imam Farooqi.

Interim order brings hope

The festival of Id-ul-Zuha brought a ray of hope for the Gujjar community in Dehra Dun as an interim order cancelling their eviction from the Rajaji Park was issued by the Central government.

"Id has brought a new ray of hope for us with this order,'' Mushtok Lambardar, a Gujjar leader said.

Director General, Forests N.K. Joshi, has instructed the state governments not to ``resort to the eviction'' of tribal people and forest dwellers other than ineligible encroachers till a complete survey is done for the recognition of such people and their rights.

The Gujjar community was residing for decades in the jungles of the Rajaji park here.

According to Rajaji Park Director G S Pandey, out of a total 1,390 Gujjar families, nearly 660 families have been rehabilitated to Gaindi Khata and Pathri areas in Hardwar district and the remaining process would be carried out in a time-bound manner.

However, he said the new Central government directive was being discussed among top officials of the forest department and a decision would soon be taken in this regard.

Camel sacrifice evokes criticism

In the meanwhile, the 127-year-old custom of sacrificing a camel on the occasion of Id inside the Nawab Mahal at Tonk in Rajasthan has come in for flak from animal rights groups.

The `People for Animals' condemned the sacrifice today describing it as "brutal killing of a mute animal''.

Babu Lal Jaju, the state in charge of the group, said despite his appeal to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for banning this, the "act of animal cruelty'' happened.

The sacrifice was conducted inside the Nawab Mahal as per tradition, witnessed only by the family members of Nawab Aftab Ali, police sources said.

``There is no ban on it as this is a century-old religious act performed every year at the Nawab Mahal,'' a police official said.

Chanchal Mal Chauradia of `Prani Mitra Sanstha' said he has filed a public interest litigation before the Rajasthan High Court against the practice.

Notices had been issued against the Nawab of Tonk, the Central and the State governments but so far these were not served, Chaurdia, the acting president of the Sanstha said.

``Two days ago we had sought a stay and videography permission from the court but it was not considered as the notices were still to be served to the parties,'' he said.

The clause 28 of the prevention of cruelty to animals Act has been challenged in the camel sacrifice case, he said. -- UNI & PTI

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Id celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety