After two years of subdued celebrations due to COVID-19 restrictions, the districts of Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Uttara Kannada in North Karnataka witnessed vibrant celebrations of Id-ul-Fitr on Tuesday, with people coming out in large numbers to offer namaz at the various idgah maidans in their respective villages, towns and cities.
Due to the pandemic, members of the Muslim community like their Hindu and Christian brethren had not celebrated any of their festivals in the last two years. But this time, with the restrictions being lifted, there were vibrant celebrations and in the days preceding the festival, people had flocked to the market areas indicating what the celebrations would be like.
On Tuesday, members of the Muslim community came out in large numbers to offer namaz at the idgah maidans. While they greeted each other after the prayers, there were also members of the Hindu community to greet them. At several places in these districts, members of the Muslim community visited nearby mutts to seek blessings of religious heads and also to celebrate Basava Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the 12th century reformer Basaveshwara.
