Committee completes arrangements
Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Eid-ul-Fitr, the most significant festival for the Muslim community, is anticipated to be celebrated on March 21.
Special prayers are offered at Eidgah every year. Various preparations are underway across the city, with extensive arrangements made by the Eidgah Committee at the city's largest venue — the Cantonment Eidgah.
As per traditions, the special Eid prayer should ideally be offered at the city's principal Eidgah, which is why Muslim brethren from across the city converge at Cantonment Eidgah.
Originally constructed within the premises of Ambedkar Law College during the era of Malik Ambar, the Eidgah was later expanded by Aurangzeb to accommodate his army and the city's population. Historians believe its construction was completed sometime after 1682. Since then, the community has been offering prayers here for both Ramadan Eid and Bakri Eid.
The Maharashtra State Board of Waqfs, Eidgah Committee and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation jointly ensure water and other essential amenities are available. As the number of followers grows each year, the ground is periodically expanded using bulldozers.
The city also has two other notable Eidgahs — one in Rauza Baugh, believed to have been built for Pir Ismail, the spiritual mentor of Aurangzeb, and one in Osmanpura named after Mir Osman Ali, the last Nawab of the Nizam dynasty, located near the railway station at Shah Shokhtamiyan.
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Thousands of followers expected
More than 3.50 lakh followers offered prayer last year. This number is expected to rise further this year. So, the levelling of land was done through a bulldozer. All preparations have been completed.
(M A. Azhar, President, Eidgah Committee)