Muslim children greet each other after offering Eid-ul-Fitr prayers to mark the end of their holy fasting month of Ramzan, at Vizhinjam Juma Masjid in Thiruvananthapuram on April 22, 2023. Photo Credit: PTI
Muslims across Kerala celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on April 22, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan.
Thousands attended morning prayers at Eidgahs held at places including the Chandrasekaran Nair Stadium in state capital Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kollam beaches and Marine Drive in Ernakulam.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan joined hundreds of people at Kollam beach who had gathered for the special prayer. Shri Khan said that this occasion gives a message that we should benefit our society, state and country and humanity as a whole.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a message said that Eid-ul-Fitr conveys a lofty message of humanity. “To those who tirelessly strive for peace and equality in the world, Eid-ul-Fitr bestows the inner strength of love and compassion,” he added.
Palayam Imam VP Suhaib Maulvi, who led the Eidgah at Chandrasekaran Nair Stadium, said that all the facts behind the Kozhikode train arson incident on April 2 should be brought out through a thorough investigation. He said, ‘Islam does not encourage such attacks.
Palayam Imam termed the attempts to remove references to freedom fighters, important secular figures and the Mughal Empire from textbooks as ‘injustice to history’. He urged the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to review its decision to remove references to freedom fighters such as India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from textbooks.
All over Kerala, family get-togethers and sumptuous feasts are also organized as part of the celebrations. The state government had declared a holiday on Saturday in connection with the celebrations.