Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 7 (IANS) Muslims in Kerala Monday offered prayers at mosques and specially-built prayer centres across the state on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha.

Devout Muslims, dressed in their best, started arriving at prayer venues since early morning. At most places, there were special sections for women.

The biggest prayer gatherings were seen in Muslim-dominated Malappuram district, besides districts like Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

In Kannur, rains played spoil sport forcing prayers to be held indoors.

Superstar Mammootty, a devout Muslim, took a day off from films and was at his home in Kochi.

“I am all alone, my wife and children are in Chennai. This is one of the rare days I take a break from my profession. Today evening, I am leaving for Hyderabad to resume the shoot for my film ‘The King and The Commissioner’,” said Mammootty.

Eid-ul-Zuha is also known as the festival of sacrifice, when the Muslims sacrifice goats and other ‘halal’ animals commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s great act of faith many centuries ago.

The festival is to celebrate the strong faith of those devoted to Islam. It coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Makkah and people offer prayers in mosques. The sacrificial meat is distributed after the Eid prayers among family members and friends.

Since Sunday evening there were huge crowds in markets, especially at mutton stalls, all across the state.

Muslims form 24 percent of the 3.2 crore population in the state.