Shillong, April 22: The Muslim faithful in Shillong gathered at the ‘glass mosque’, the Madina Masjid, in Laban on Saturday to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Thousands of men and children clad in new clothes offered prayers at Eidgahs and mosques in Shillong, Dawki, Nongpoh, Lad Rymbai, Byrnihat and in the Garo Hills region.
The biggest congregation was at the Eidgah of India’s first glass mosque, the Madina Masjid in Shillong, where over 10,000 people offered prayers.
Every Muslim family donated to charity so that the poor could also celebrate the festival.
After prayers, Muslims visited the houses of relatives and friends to greet them. Guests were treated to “sheer khorma” (sweet made of vermicelli, milk and dry fruits) and other delicacies.
Governor Phagu Chauhan and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma also greeted the people on the occasion.
Sangma said: “Let the celebration remind us of a sense of responsibility to bring people together in harmony and may it bring abundant joy and prosperity amidst peace, love and hope.”
Muslims constitute four per cent of Meghalaya’s nearly three million people — predominantly Christians.
