Prayer grounds ready for Alvida Juma and Eid namaz in city; markets abuzz

Patna: Elaborate arrangements have been made for Alvida Juma and Eid prayers on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Eidgahs and designated prayer venues across the city have been prepared to accommodate large congregations. Adding to the festive buzz, the Sabzibagh area has turned into a bustling food hub, drawing crowds with its traditional delicacies—from sizzling kebabs and aromatic biryani to hot cups of sheer chai.

An official associated with Haj Bhawan said a huge footfall is expected on both days. Eid namaz at Haj Bhawan will be offered at 7am, and the venue has the capacity to accommodate nearly 2,500 people.

At Gandhi Maidan, Eid namaz will be offered at 7.30am. Mahmood Alam, president of the Eidan Committee, said around 20,000 people are expected to gather there. He said a designated area has been set aside, as in previous years, for CM Nitish Kumar to extend his greetings, and thanked the administration for its support in making the arrangements.

Abdullah Ansari, associated with the Shahi Eidgah in Gulzarbagh, said Eid namaz there will be offered at 8.30am and urged people to arrive well in time.

Markets across Patna witnessed heavy crowds on Thursday as people stepped out for last-minute shopping. Shops selling clothes, footwear, accessories, sweets and other festive essentials remained busy, while commercial areas saw a sharp rise in footfall.

Heavy crowds were seen in Patna Market, Sabzibagh and around Patna Junction, especially at shops selling food items such as sewai, sheermal, bakarkhani and dry fruits.

Mohammad Gauhar, who came from Raja Bazar to Sabzibagh to buy delicacies, said he had to wait for more than an hour at a bakery to purchase sheermal and bakarkhani. He added that shops selling sewai were also witnessing a similar rush.

A local resident, Ahmad Khalid Farooqui (45), said he had never seen such crowds before. “Every year, the number of food stalls increases and so does the crowd. This year, it is massive. The area has become like a food hub similar to those around Jama Masjid in Delhi. Several shops remain open till 4am,” he said.

People said the largely Mughlai dishes, sold at nominal rates, were the main reason for the heavy footfall. Kebabs—including simple kebab, malai kebab and seekh kebab—are priced between Rs 160 and Rs 250 per plate.

Haleem, another Ramzan-only delicacy, is available for around Rs 80 to Rs 100 for a small plate of chicken haleem.

Bailey Road resident Ashish Kumar said he visits the area every Ramzan to enjoy the food. “This year, before Navratra, I went to Sabzibagh thrice to relish the delicacies,” he said.

Apart from these dishes, the pink-coloured sheer chai remains a major draw. The flavoured milk tea, sold only during Ramzan, attracts huge crowds. Ekhlaq Ahmad said he visits one of the stalls every night after iftar with friends to enjoy the beverage.