After celebrating a low key Ramzan this year, several Muslims were looking forward to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on May 23-24 with prayer meetings and community celebrations. Since the Government has prohibited any kind of religious gatherings during the lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19, the Eid celebrations are also likely to be restrained in Dehradun and elsewhere in the state.

Though many locals are fine with the low-key celebrations and have plans to celebrate Eid differently this time, some think the celebration can still be possible during the lockdown. Some locals opined that prayers can be offered in mosques with social distancing protocol during relaxation hours.

 "If the Government can allow business during the lockdown, it can allow the prayers in Eid too just for one day. Several people will probably not visit the mosques due to coronavirus besides the recent fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Deoband that asked Muslims to offer Eid prayers at home due to the pandemic.

But I think those who want to offer prayers in mosques should be allowed to do so," stated college student Shan Murad.

 However, many Muslims believe that people should keep Eid celebrations low-key and avoid gatherings so that celebrations do not jeopardise the efforts made in the last three months to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to college student Sana Zehra, "There is no point of meeting people for Eid Milan in the current scenario if we are not sure about anyone's safety. I and my siblings also joined "Say no to Eid shopping to help the needy" campaign and did not shop for Eid this time.

Instead, we used the shopping money to donate masks and sanitisers to destitute near our home." 

Talking about people who still want to celebrate Eid traditionally, Zehra said, "I know there are some people who are asking for permission from the administration to do prayers and community meetings claiming Allah will not let anything happen to them.

That is illogical. God helps those who think for others too. Public celebrations and meetings can cause community infection of coronavirus putting hundreds of lives at risk."

There can be no better way of celebrating Eid this year than helping the needy in the current crisis and limiting our celebration in our homes with our families, said local resident Mohammad Ali.