SONNA – Muslims around the world celebrated Eid Al-Fitr; the end of the holy month of Ramadan, with family and friends without the fear and restrictions caused by COVID-19 in the past 3 years.
Muslims in Somalia have gathered at the Mosques to pray Salatul Eid, one of the Mosques include the newly built mosque named after the owner of Hormuud Telecommunications Company A. Jim’ale. The mosque hosted hundreds on the day of Eid and same goes to Somalia’s coalition mosque (Isbaheysiga Mosque), hundreds came to pray alongside the President of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia have gathered in large groups to usher in the Eid al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, relieved to be able to celebrate freely after the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions that had curtailed previous celebrations.
In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, hundreds of worshippers turned up for morning prayers on Saturday at the historic port of Sunda Kelapa in North Jakarta to mark the end of Ramadan.
“I’m very happy that we’re free (of COVID curbs) now,” Laila, 35, who goes by one name like many Indonesians, told the Reuters news agency.
Another worshipper, 30-year-old Adit Chandra, said: “I hope it gets better from here on, and that we can gather together with our families after the last three years of not being able to go back to our hometown.”
Chandra is among the more than 120 million Indonesians – nearly half the country’s population – who plan to travel from major urban centres to their hometowns for Eid al-Fitr. The figure represents about 44 percent more than the number of people who travelled during celebrations last year, the government said.
In neighbouring Malaysia, devotees also celebrated with families.
“We can visit the extended family, and do so without suspicious feelings … during the pandemic we were cautious,” said Khairul Soryati, a 39-year-old resident of the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Muhd Nur Afham, 31, who works in Singapore said he could finally celebrate with family in Malaysia this year after not being able to travel during the pandemic.
“I’m grateful … last time we only met through video call,” he said.
Authorities in both countries have, however, urged the public to remain cautious amid reports of rising COVID cases.
Source: Agencies
