Kerala celebrates Eid

Thiruvananthapuram: The Muslim community of Kerala celebrated Eid on Monday and visited specially erected Eid-Gahs, halls and mosques across the state to offer prayers. It was a public holiday for all offices here.

Eid Gahs -- open-air gathering outside the city -- with special enclosures for women witnessed a large footfall, as many attended special prayers and messages given by the clerics.

Kerala has 88.73 lakh Muslims and huge crowds participated in prayer centres in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargode ditricts.

As the day coincided with the Haj pilgrimage in Makkah, sacrificial meat was also distributed after the prayers.

The Onam festival would start here on Tuesday.

As this Eid is celebrated with the sacrifice of a sheep, goat, buffalo or camel along with the Eid prayers, the price of mutton touched a record Rs 700 per kg.