Mar 31, Kathmandu- Muslims in Parsa celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr (Eid) maintaining social harmony. The Islamic community celebrated the festival of Eid with joy by offering Namaz (prayer) in Eidgahs and mosques in Parsa.

Thousands of Muslim community members celebrated Eid by exchanging greetings with each other at Eidgah Chowk in Birgunj Metropolitan City-2. Hindu community members of Birgunj have been exchanging greetings by organizing ‘Iftar’ with people from the Muslim community on the occasion of Ramadan. This has been developing religious tolerance and brotherhood among the communities here.

Birgunj Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Imtiaz Alam said that Hindu and Muslim communities have maintained harmony and tolerance since their ancestors. “For centuries, Hindu and Muslim communities have been participating in each other's festivals,” he said. “This has helped maintain social harmony and unity.”

Nawaf Mia Siddiqui of Chhapakaiyya, Birgunj-2, said that the festival should be promoted as a means of maintaining social harmony and brotherhood. “In Birgunj, people of all religions have been living in harmony with each other,” he said.

From children to senior citizens, people have been present at the mosques and Eidgahs in Birgunj. “We fasted for a month on the occasion of Eid. We broke the fast by offering prayers,” said Mansur Ahmed, a leader of the Muslim community. “Today, we have a tradition of inviting friends to our homes and eating and feeding them apple and other sweet dishes.”

On the day of Eid, members of the Muslim community go to the mosque and Eidgah early in the morning to offer collective prayers, seeking forgiveness for their mistakes and those of their families, and seeking blessings from Allah (God).

In Birganj, there was a scene of people reaching places like Eidgahchowk, Chhapkaiya, Muli, Nagwa, Nyakatola and praying and asking for blessings. After offering prayers, the Muslim community hugged each other and exchanged Eid greetings.