Worshippers tweak Eid prayer plans as morning starts on a wet note

Kolkata: Rain played a spoilsport on Eid morning as the showers disrupted special prayers, forcing thousands of worshippers to change plans at the last minute on Saturday. Wet, slippery roads and a rush for indoor space affected attendance at several major prayer venues across the city.Large crowds traditionally gather in mosques and special venues, like Red Road, for Eid prayers, with congregations held through the morning. This year, however, steady overnight rain forced people to change their plans, with many devotees rushing to the mosques early in the hope of finding a covered space to offer prayers.At several mosques, the courtyards and terraces, which usually brim with visitors on Eid mornings, remained largely unused on Saturday. But space filled up quickly in the covered halls inside the mosques. Though there was no waterlogging or traffic jams, roads, lanes and open spaces turned slushy and slippery, making it difficult for devotees walking to prayer venues.At Nakhoda Mosque on Zakaria Street, the prayer was held from 7.30 am amid a steady spell of showers, leading to many people avoiding the open prayer area. More than 25,000 people usually offer prayers at Nakhoda Mosque on Eid, but this year, several thousands had to come away and visit mosques, located nearer their homes, to avoid getting drenched in the courtyard. The lanes leading to Nakhoda Mosque, which usually remains packed on Eid, wore a deserted look. "I didn't get space inside the mosque by the time I reached. I had to offer namaz in a nearby mosque at 8.30 am," said Yusuf Ahmed, a resident off Central Avenue.The staggered timings of Eid prayers across different mosques, however, offered some relief. As congregations are held at different hours through the morning, many worshippers who were unable to find space at one mosque were able to head to another and offer prayers once the rain reduced and the weather conditions improved.The turnout at Red Road was good as prayers there were scheduled at 9 am, and by then, the rain had reduced to a drizzle.The weather also acted as a dampener for social traditions. Many families postponed their visits to relatives and friends that usually begin soon after the morning prayers. "It is a tradition to visit family and friends soon after the prayers with sweets. But this year, we had to defer it till the rain stopped," said Faisal Shamim from Dargah Road. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with EId ul fitr 2026 wishes, messages and quotes !