Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: Before the first rays of sunlight lit up the horizon on Monday, the streets of old Delhi were already bustling with activity. Hundreds of people made their way towards the white domes of the Jama Masjid, the air celebratory, with Eid-ul-Fitr marking the end of a month-long fasting during the holy month of Ramzan.
By the time the clock struck 6.30am, the streets leading to the medieval mosque were crammed. Footsteps rang out as families, friends and individuals hurried towards the mosque, some walking together in small groups, others by themselves, but all with festival joy in their hearts. Those who couldn’t enter the mosque lined up outside.
When the time came, the devout rolled out their prayer mats and knelt in perfect synchrony. With the end of namaz came hugs and greetings of “Eid mubarak!” Alam, a father of two, surveyed the crowd, nostalgia and pride in his eyes. “I have offered namaz at Jama Masjid all my life. I used to come here with my father, who died three years ago. Now, I bring my kids,” he shared, a tad emotionally. The connection to the mosque is, for many like Alam, more than just a religious practice; it is a family tradition passed down through generations.
The joy of Eid spilled into the streets where people, dressed in festive finery, enthusiastically greeted each other, shared sweets and offered customary delicacies. The air was rich with the scent of sweet treats like sevai, kheer and sheer khurma alongside the aroma of freshly prepared biryani and kebabs.
“I come to Jama Masjid every Eid not just to pray, but to enjoy the ambience,” Anwar, a visitor from old Delhi, said. “There’s something about being here, surrounded by so many people from different walks of life, all united in prayer and celebration. It reminds me that faith, like this mosque, is timeless.”
After the prayers, crowds gathered to marvel at the grandeur of the Mughal-era masjid, its marble and sandstone beauty even more striking on this special day. Foreign tourists stood in awe, their faces filled with wonder as they observed the scene — a sight that spoke of devotion, unity and celebration.
Shoaib, a college student from Karol Bagh, had come with a rather unusual companion — his Persian cat, Simba. The feline, dressed in a delicate white fabric adorned with gota work, seemed an odd but endearing presence among the sea of people. “I got this costume stitched for him for Eid. I couldn’t leave Simba at home; he would have felt lonely. So, I thought, why not bring him along?” beamed Shoaib.
For Samya, it was a particularly special Eid. Dressed in a maroon sharara set embellished with sequins that sparkled as the sunlight played on them, she stood out among the crowd. “I got married four months ago and this is my first Eid after marriage,” she explained, her happiness evident in her tone. “My husband and I decided to come here together. After this, we will have some sheer khurma in the market.”
As the morning wore on, nine wide-eyed children, aged between 8 and 12, chattering incessantly, explored every corner of the mosque. “We came here before the namaz began,” said Shadab, who travelled from Okhla with his friends. “We arrived here on our own in an autorickshaw. Our parents didn’t come with us. It was good to be able to say our prayers here.”
As the sun climbed higher, the energy around only increased. Jama Masjid, with its 370-year-old minarets and domes, once again witnessed a gathering of people united in their devotion and celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Mayank Rawat
