The
ongoing lockdown in Telangana disrupted the Ramzan festivities in the state today.
The Muslim community in the state, confined to their homes this year, were not able to offer Eid prayers at Eidgahs and mosques. As a result, they were forced to pray in their houses while police personnel were seen patrolling all the major mosques in the state to ensure that nobody visited them.
Further, although Ramzan is a time to celebrate with family and friends, celebrations this time were dampened by people's inability to meet up with their relatives.
Speaking on the occasion, a Muslim youth from Tolichowki said that the festival would have felt more lively if the state government had extended the lockdown relaxations till 1:00 pm for today.
Though the Muslim community was left disappointed with the lowkey observance of Ramzan, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Anjani Kumar, who toured different areas of the Old City to monitor the implementation of the lockdown, was happy to see that the public had adhered to the lockdown timings. He took a video of his visit and shared it on his Twitter account, saying he was proud to be the resident of a city where the people followed all the lockdown rules strictly.
Earlier this year, the pandemic had also
hindered Good Friday and Easter celebrations in Telangana.
Many Christians, disgruntled by the implementation a March 27 GO, which placed a number of curbs on religious gatherings, had questioned the state government as to why only religious congregations had been banned while
cinema halls, malls and pubs had been allowed to remain open.
In fact, a group of Christian leaders had even submitted a representation to Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar seeking permission to hold the Good Friday and Easter church services.