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Confusion over Id celebration in Uttar Pradesh

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Ulemas and religious leaders' failure to reach a consensus on Id-ul-Fitr date has resulted in confusion on celebrating the festival in Uttar Pradesh. While it was celebrated in several cities, including Lucknow, on Tuesday, it will be celebrated in some cities on Wednesday.

Urban Muslims were divided on the date, depending on the moon's visibility. On Tuesday, the main Id prayer was held at Aishbagh Idgah here. However, in several parts of the city, including Indira Nagar, Gomti Nagar and Mohanlalganj, Id is to be celebrated on Wednesday.

Till midnight on Tuesday, the moon was not sighted here and Markazi Chand Committee general secretary Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, who is the Naib Imam of Aishbagh Idgah, announced that as the moon was not sighted in the evening/night of Monday, Id would be celebrated on October 25 all over Uttar Pradesh.

The Muslims were asked to observe "roza" (fast) on October 24, which was to be 30th day of the month of Ramzan.

Noted Shia cleric and All India Muslim Personal Law Board vice-chairman Maulana Kalbe Sadiq supported Maulana Rasheed. He had announced that Id would fall on October 25 on the basis of scientific calculations on the moon's movement.

However, the Markazi Chand Committee reversed its decision at 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Maulana Rasheed later said though the moon was not sighted here, its sighting was confirmed in some places. Hence, Id would be celebrated on Tuesday.

While the majority of Sunni Muslims, heeding the announcement, celebrated the festival on Tuesday, "Shahar Qazi" of Lucknow Maulana Abul Irfan Firangi Mahali rejected Maulana Rasheed's call. He said Id would be celebrated on Wednesday.

The Barelvi sect leaders, including the "Qazi," decided to celebrate the festival on Wednesday.

The Shias here have also decided to celebrate the festival on Wednesday.

Besides Lucknow, Id was celebrated on Tuesday in Meerut, Aligarh , Gorakhpur and Mau. On Wednesday the festival will be celebrated in Kanpur, Agra, Varanasi, Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad, Faizabad, Unnao, Azamgarh and in some parts here.

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