Eid celebrated with traditional fervour in UP

Eid was celebrated across Uttar Pradesh with traditional gaiety and religious fervour amid heavy police presence and security.

Lucknow: Eid was celebrated across Uttar Pradesh with traditional gaiety and religious fervour on Friday amid heavy police presence and security.

The morning `namaaz` (prayers) were offered at major mosques like Aishbagh Idgah and Teelewaali Masjid in the state capital and in Jama Masjid in Agra. There were no reports of any untoward incident in any part of the state, officials said. Security had been beefed up following communal clashes in the past few months. Police were deployed in sensitive areas. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav joined the festivities at Eidgah and said the festival underlined universal brotherhood and secularism. Eid prayers in Lucknow were led by Sunni cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli. Reports of Eid festivities were also coming in from Amroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, Budayun, Shahjahanpur, Mainpuri and other towns. However, rain disrupted the `namaaz` at some places. IANS