Guwahati marks Eid with prayers

Guwahati: Amid the heat of the Assam assembly elections, Eid was celebrated in Guwahati with great pomp and joy as thousands of devotees gathered at mosques and idgahs to offer prayers. From the early morning hours, prominent mosques witnessed large congregations on Saturday.Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan when devotees fast from dawn to dusk, saw major gatherings in Machkhowa and Jalukbari’s Garigaon locality.After prayers, familiar scenes unfolded — warm embraces, greetings of “Eid Mubarak”, and the gradual dispersal of crowds into neighbourhoods where celebrations continued throughout the day. Families prepared elaborate meals, while many visited relatives and friends. With elections looming large, conversations and prayers subtly reflected the mood of the times. Kunki Chowdhury, contesting her first election from the Guwahati Central assembly constituency on behalf of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), said, “I am contesting for the very first time, and on this holy occasion, I have come to seek their blessings.”Meanwhile, Rubul Ali, a resident of Gandhibasti, urged for calm and unity, “We are praying for peace and unity. With the elections approaching, we only hope that everything remains calm and people stand together without any division.”Despite the intense political fervour, communities also chose to honour a cultural icon. Several mosques paused amid the election buzz to pay heartfelt tribute to the late singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away last year. At the Samguri Bor Masjid Kosida Jamat in Sivasagar, the atmosphere turned commemorative as the mosque was illuminated with decorative lights. A cutout of Garg was prominently displayed, becoming the focal point of the tribute as devotees remembered the legendary artist alongside their prayers.