Srinagar, Oct 16 (IANS): Muslims throughout Jammu and Kashmir offered Eid prayers at Eidgahs and mosques Wednesday and greeted one another on the festive occasion.
Large gatherings were seen in Eidgah grounds in the old city, at Polo Ground and Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, and in towns across the Kashmir Valley Wednesday as Muslims dressed in new clothes came out in thousands to join the Eid prayers.
Eid prayers were also offered in Eidgah ground in Jammu city, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar and other district headquarters of the Jammu region where Hindus greeted Muslims on the festive occasion.
Children clad in festive dresses accompanied parents to the prayer meets, adding to colour and fervour of the festivities in the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered Eid prayers at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar on the edge of Dal Lake.
Special security arrangements were made around the Hazratbal shrine.
Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, patron of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), offered Eid prayers at Syed Yaqoob Sahib shrine/mosque in the high security Sonawar area of Srinagar.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik were placed under house arrest by the authorities in Srinagar city Wednesday.
Another senior separatist leader, Shabir Shah was detained along with some of his supporters while he was going to the Hazratbal shrine.
Police said Shah and his supporters were released later.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, offered his Eid prayers at the Jamia Mosque in Nowhatta area of the old city in Srinagar.
After the prayers, Muslims throughout the state will start offering animal sacrifices to commemorate the tradition.
According to belief, On the Allah's divine command, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) decided to sacrifice his son Ismail. Just when the blindfolded Ibrahim moved the blade on his son's throat, the Allah replaced Ismail with a goat, sparing Ibrahim the sorrow and Ismail his life.
It is to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's absolute submission to the Allah and his sacrifice that Muslims throughout the world celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, also called Bakr Eid, and offer animal sacrifices on the occasion.