Guwahati: There will be no mass prayers in mosques across Assam on Eid ul-Fitr. The Masjid committees in Assam have taken this decision on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and state government guidelines. Clerics of the masjids have appealed to the faithful in their area to offer prayers at their respective homes to celebrate the festival at the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting, News18 reported quoting PTI.
An office-bearer of the Burha Jame Masjid Committee in Guwahati was quoted as saying that there will be no mass gathering of people as usual during Eid at the masjids or Eidgah fields for offering prayers, traditional shaking of hands, or embracing one another due to the pandemic protocols of social distancing. As per the government guidelines for all religious places, the congregation of only five persons was allowed at either masjids or Eidgahs, the office-bearer added.
To avoid large congregations and for crowd management, most masjids have been kept locked by their committees since the pandemic last year, he informed. Only five persons, including Maulana and the staff, will offer prayers in Masjid premises this holy festival, he was quoted as saying