The customary hugs will not be there after the Id prayers this year. The warmth will be there but the muted celebration will have a constant reminder of the unfolding human tragedy caused by a raging virus.

Muhammad Faizal, 34, a Beniapukur resident, came to New Market on the eve of Id on Thursday to buy new clothes. He returned with only one bag, containing a set of kurta pyjama for his 8-year-old nephew. In previous years, he had to bring along a friend as there would be too many bags.

“This is no time for grandeur because disease and death are all around. Normally, I have colleagues and friends coming over to our place for lunch. But this time, it is going to be just a family affair,” said Faizal, who works for an IT company in Sector V.

Many people said the feast would be curtailed and celebrations limited to family members.

The Id biryani at the home of Shadab Khan, 39, a plywood trader in Barrackpore, is the stuff of legend among his friends. Every Id, he and his wife, Nausheen, host over 50 guests, some of them coming from as far as Narendrapur, on the southern fringes of the city.

“But this year, we will just have a video call with them to exchange greetings,” said Khan.

Visits to Zakaria Street and New Market a day before Id offered a peek into the muted celebrations planned for the occasion. Both places were busy but the crowd was nothing compared to the usual frenzy on the eve of Id.

A walk down the entire stretch of Zakaria Street, around 600m long, took just over 10 minutes on Thursday. On the eve of Id in previous years, it would take at least 30 minutes.

“People from all over the city come here before Id. This time, mostly residents of the area are here. The volume of purchase is also much lesser than usual. A person who buys 5kg of sewai is buying only 1kg,” said Shahid Ahmed, 64, who sells cigarettes, soft drinks and other items from a small shop on Zakaria Street.

“This is not the time to celebrate. If we show prudence this year, God willing, we can celebrate Id with aplomb next year,” said Muhammad Fayazuddin, who owns a store selling kurta pyjamas opposite Nakhoda Masjid. By prudence, he meant abiding by the Covid protocols.

The shops opened during the 5pm-to-7pm window.

The imam of Nakhoda Masjid, Shafique Quasmi, said there would be no large gathering in the mosque for Id prayers. “I have appealed to people to pray from their homes. People who visit the mosque for prayers will be split into small groups. I have asked them to desist from hugging one another after the prayers,” he said.

The customary Id prayer on Red Road has been called off.

“The maligning of Muslims is a toxic ploy by people who thrive on polarisation and hatred.

But that thrusts more responsibility on our shoulders. We should not let our guard down for once and must continue to abide by all the Covid protocols,” said Manzar Jameel, a 60-year-old resident of Paddapukur in Entally.

Id at Jameel’s residence normally involves an elaborate spread of biryani, paratha, korma, sewai, sheermal and other delicacies. His four sisters and their family members come over for a feast.

But this year, it will be just his core family — his 85-year-old mother, wife and three daughters.

Id is being held against the backdrop of a pandemic for the second straight year.

“There is very little we can do, other than following the Covid protocols meticulously. This pandemic is worse than a war, where you can at least see your enemy,” said Shahanshah Mirza, the great-great-grandson of Wajid Ali Shah.

Id for Mirza starts with a visit to the Imambara in Beniapukur, followed by a visit to his mother’s graveyard. The morning then leads to a full day of feasting with friends and relatives. But this time, Mirza is not stepping out of his home. Neither is he having guests at his place.

Mirza has two daughters aged 22 and 12. The younger one’s response to the curtailed celebrations has pleasantly surprised Mirza. “She has not asked for any gifts. She understands that it is not right when people are sick and dying,” said Mirza.