GUWAHATI, Aug 1 - With COVID-19 restrictions in the city, the Muslim community here celebrated the holy Eid-ul-Zuha taking all safety precautions today. Also known as Eid-ul-Adha, the festival is marked by the sacrifice feast that commemorates the event when Prophet Mohammad�s faith was tested by the Almighty, and a goat was sacrificed in place of his own son.
The occasion is also marked by charity as people help the poor and needy.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has dampened the celebratory mood on the eve of Eid-ul-Zuha or Bakrid in Guwahati.
People offered their namaaz from home as the district administration has allowed gathering of five people to offer namaaz by maintaining social distancing and wearing masks in all mosques and idgahs of the city.
�The coronavirus has dampened the festive mood here. We offer Eid prayers at our home. We missed the essence of gathering and brotherhood during collective prayers at idgah this time,� convener of Guwahati Samaj Kalyan Committee Nakib Iman Saikia said.
The business activity is totally down in the city as well as in the State due to this pandemic. The flood in the State has also added to the list of woes of the public.
�The Fancy Bazar area is known for its food during Eid, besides shopping for the festival. But, only a few shops were open this time. Moreover, only 10 per cent of the customers in comparison to the previous years visited the market,� Saikia added.
Earlier, people used to visit the market ten days before the celebration of the festival. But this time, a few sections of people have visited the market.
The sellers of goats at the Assam Livestock and Poultry Corporation (ALPCO) premises at Khanapara were not able to find satisfactory buyers this time.
�Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic and the floods in the State have disrupted the supply chain of goats in the city. We sold goats less than the usual price due to the limited buyers,� a seller said.
