After a gap of two years, devotees gathered at Nazrul Park overcoming rain and thunderstorm for Id-ul-fitr namaaz on Tuesday morning. Salt Lake and New Town Harmony Association had organised the gathering and Maulana Khurshid Alam of Karulibazaar Mosque, Baruipur lead the prayer session.
“Last two years we did not hold any prayer meet but this year since the Covid situation is better we went ahead. Namaaz should be offered in clean and open surroundings so we did not prepare any shed. If we knew about the rain it would not have helped as our timing is fixed at 8.30am. We all prayed in the rain and many enjoyed it,” said Mir Golam Nabi, who is back at the helm after the previous secretary Md. Irfan Asad succumbed to Covid in December 2020. “We wanted new members to take over but since no one came up I took charge again,” said the 70-year-old New Town resident.
Razzak Rana was completely drenched as he came running out of the park to take shelter under the Metro viaduct. “I was really excited that we could hold our prayers together again. I am all wet but still I am really happy to get to perform namaaz in the open again,” said the AD Block resident.
Abdul Raza carried a folding chair as he walked out of the park with his son Rashid. “My family was supposed to come later but I stopped them on noticing the storm brewing. Luckily I was sitting under a tree so I was not completely wet like the others,” said the 67-year-old AL Block resident.
Yasmin Rahaman of New Town AC Block had gone to the Salt Lake park for the first time. “We got up when the rain started but returned to our spots on noticing that the men on the other side of the curtain had not moved,” she smiled.
Many people were seen standing under shelters, being unable to enter the park. Hasan Azad, who was with his family, said: “Every year our relatives gather and we offer namaaz here. Later we have a dawat at home. The last two years were very difficult for all of us so we were hopeful this time we would be able to offer namaaz in the open with others. But by the time we reached it had started raining heavily and they had already started,” said Hasan. His daughter Asiya had other plans. “I was supposed to meet my friends for a day out with them but now my new dress is all wet. So I have to return home,” said the 22-year-old.
For Sharmin Hussain, Id is all about cooking and serving delicious food to friends and family. “I have been cooking since yesterday. The last two years we had a very small celebration but this time we have planned a large feast. I am cooking mutton biryani, chicken tikka kabab, chicken korma, nalli nihari, galouti kabab, sheer khurma and sheermal. Many of our friends will also be visiting us so now I have to rush home and finish with my cooking,” she smiled as she started off, while opening her umbrella.
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