Eid-al-Adha: People flout safety norms, offer namaz at mosque in Jharkhand

Despite Jharkhand government's order to follow COVID-19 protocols and guidelines to contain the pandemic, while observing Eid-al-Adha at religious places in the state, people residing in Ramgarh conveniently violated social distancing rules to offer namaz at Sarai mosque in the town.

Ramgarh: Flouting social distancing rules, hundreds of people gathered at a mosque in Jharkhand to offer prayers on the occasion of Eid-al-Adha on Saturday.

Despite Jharkhand government's order to follow COVID-19 protocols and guidelines to contain the pandemic while observing the festival at religious places in the state, people residing in Ramgarh conveniently violated social distancing norms to offer namaz at New Sarai mosque in the locality.

After a video showing, people jostling against each other started circulating on social media, Ramgarh police reached the mosque to bring the situation under control. But till the time the police reached the spot the people were seen returning to their homes. The police saw scores of people coming out of the mosque after offering namaz.

Ramgarh Superintendent of Police Shri Prabhat Kumar told ETV Bharat that apart from state government's appeal to offer namaz at home, a meeting was held with the localities to ask them to follow the same, but people did not pay heed to the appeals.

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown and the subsequent closure of religious places, Muslim devotees were unable to pray in mosques on Eid-ul-Fitr in May. However, as per Unlock 1 guidelines, the Centre had allowed religious places to reopen from June 8 while maintaining social distancing norms. According to Unlock 3 guidelines, religious functions and other large congregations continue to be prohibited.

Earlier in the day, the festival was celebrated in Delhi as people offered namaz in mosques and performed the ritual of animal sacrifice by strictly adhering to precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival, popularly known as Bakr Eid, marks festivities and sacrifice of animals, like goats and sheep, by people to express their devotion to God.