Mosques stick to shifts, new rules for Friday prayers

Kolkata: In compliance with govt directives, mosques across Kolkata and neighbouring districts held prayers in two shifts on Friday to ensure worshippers could offer namaz within mosque premises and avoid spillover onto roads.Several mosques in areas like Park Circus, Beck Bagan, AJC Bose Road, Collin Street, Elliot Road, Rajabazar and Narkeldanga organised staggered congregations, with the committees coordinating closely with local police and community volunteers to manage crowds during peak prayer hours.At Nakhoda Mosque in Zakaria Street, worshippers attended prayers in two separate jamaats held at staggered timings through the afternoon. "We organised Friday prayers in two shifts so that everyone could offer namaz comfortably inside the mosque premises," said Nasser Ebrahim, trustee of the mosque. "We have been consistently requesting worshippers to cooperate with the arrangements, avoid praying on roads and follow the govt's guidelines. People responded positively and the system worked smoothly."Police personnel were deployed outside major mosques to regulate movement and guide worshippers once mosque premises reached capacity during the first round of prayers. Many devotees either returned for the second shift or moved to nearby mosques.A police officer posted outside Nakhoda Mosque said the arrangements were largely successful and received public cooperation."Last Friday, there was some confusion because many people were not aware of the new arrangements," said the officer. "This week, people came prepared for staggered prayers and largely complied with the guidelines." Several mosque committees said announcements were made throughout the week urging worshippers to attend staggered congregations and avoid crowding outside mosques.In Rajabazar, Jama Masjid Rajabazar also conducted prayers in two shifts. "We appealed to people to remain patient and cooperate with the revised timings," said the imam of a local mosque. "There was much better awareness this week, and worshippers adjusted to the arrangements without major inconvenience."Mosques in neighbouring districts, including Howrah, Hooghly and the two Parganas, adopted similar measures during Friday prayers. "Most mosques in the districts conducted prayers in two shifts and people respected the guidelines," said Jiaul Hoque of the All India Imam Association in Hooghly.