HUBBALLI: Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with pomp and gaiety in the twin cities on Saturday. The festival was marked by mass prayers, sermons and charity.A large number of people participated in mass prayers at the two Idgah Maidans. The stretch of Lamington Road was teeming with Muslims who had come to offer 'namaz' at the Idgah Maidan, adjacent to the Kittur Chennamma Circle.Moulana Zahiruddin Kazi conducted the namaz and delivered the qutba (Islamic sermons) at the Idgah Maidan, while Moulana Quaza Hoyes conducted the namaz at Old Hubballi.Former minister A M Hindasgeri and Anjuman-e-Islam former president Mohammad Yusuf Savanur Wahab Mulla, Altaf Hallur and other members of Anjumane Islam were among the prominent Muslim leaders who participated in the mass prayers.People from different faiths too took part in the celebrations. Religious scholars gave sermons and urged the community to promote brotherhood and compassion and strive to foster social and communal harmony.Charity being another special feature of this festival, community outfits organised programmes and distributed food to the poor at many places in Hubballi.Muslim families invited neighbours, friends and relatives for lunch and offered them sheer khurma.People set out from their houses in their best dresses and offered prayers organized by Anjuman-E-Islam at Idgah Maidan near Central Jail and nearby mosques. The local clerics decided to celebrate Ramzan on Saturday as the moon was sighted on Friday night.Anjuman-e-Islam president Ismail Tamatgar, who spoke at the mass prayer, explained the development works taken up by Anjuman. He said a ladies hostel for students studying in Anjuman Degree College will be constructed at Rasulpur Galli and the construction of a wall around the burial ground in Hosayallapur was nearing completion. He said Anjuman was taking steps to improve academic standards in its institutions besides providing state-of-the-art infrastructure.Tamatgar later hosted a lunch to invitees at his residence in Sadhanakeri.Since traders belonging to the community were celebrating the festival, wholesale trade of vegetables was closed on Saturday. However, Muslim traders and vendors were back to business soon after morning prayers and the market was bristling with activities by late afternoon.Police had made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival.

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