NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his Eid ul-Adha greetings to the nation on Thursday as India celebrated Bakrid with special prayers and charitable festivities. “Eid ul-Adha greetings! May this occasion deepen the spirit of brotherhood and happiness in our society. Praying for everyone’s success and good health,” Modi wrote on social media platform X.
In a similar sentiment, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared his wishes online, stating, “Wishing you and your family a Bakrid filled with joy. May your home be filled with warmth and togetherness today. Eid Mubarak.”
Celebrations across India included special prayers at Fatehpuri Masjid in Old Delhi, with large crowds gathering at Jamaica Masjid in New Delhi and various Eidgahs. Joint Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma noted that the celebrations had remained incident-free thus far and expressed hope this would continue.
Prayers in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district were conducted peacefully under police supervision. Om Prakash, a temple attendant, highlighted the harmonious coexistence of Hindu and Muslim communities, pointing out that a temple and an Eidgah share a common wall.
In Rajasthan, the Jannati Darwaza at Khwaja Garib Nawaz Dargah opened early, drawing large crowds for prayers. The festival is reportedly being celebrated peacefully in other states, including Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Bihar.
In Uttar Pradesh, Joint Commissioner of Police Bablu Kumar announced the deployment of 46 officers at the Additional SP level and around 14 Deputy SPs, with a police force of nearly 1,500 personnel. Local police were instructed to conduct meetings with peace committees in every zone.
In West Bengal, Chandannagar Police Commissioner Sunil Kumar Yadav mentioned the deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Emergency First Response (EFR) teams, alongside 12 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Approximately 22 coordination meetings were held with community leaders to ensure the smooth conduct of the festivities.
Yadav remarked that all sacrifices (qurbani) would be performed in designated closed areas, and meat distribution would also be restricted to these spaces to ensure normal traffic flow.
