Bhubaneswar, Aug 20 (IANS): It was a day of peace and brotherhood Monday as Hindus in many parts of Odisha joined in Eid celebrations across the state.

Hindu families visited the houses of their Muslim friends and greeted them on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Large congregations of Muslims were seen at Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore and Sambalpur towns with the devout packing into mosques, Eidgahs and open grounds to offer prayers.

"It was an occasion to pray to Allah for communal peace, universal brotherhood and removal of human suffering," a Muslim cleric here told IANS.

In several places, Muslim families invited their Hindu neighbours to join the community feast.

Elaborate security arrangements were made at different places, a police official said.

Eid, celebrated on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, marks the end of the period of fasting during the holy month of Ramzan. Eid is an Arabic word meaning festivity, while Fitr means charity.