Bhatkal: Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan, was celebrated with deep religious fervour and communal harmony across Bhatkal and surrounding areas on Friday.

The festival was declared on Thursday evening following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent in Kerala, which was subsequently accepted in parts of Coastal Karnataka, including Bhatkal, Udupi and Mangaluru. With the announcement, members of the Muslim community intensified preparations for the festival, including the timely distribution of Fitra — a mandatory charitable contribution given before Eid prayers — to ensure that economically weaker sections could also participate in the celebrations.

On the day of Eid, large congregations assembled at the Eidgah Maidan in Bhatkal, where the special Eid prayer was led by Khateeb of Khalifa Jamia Masjid, Maulana Khwaja Moinuddin Akrami Madani. In his sermon, he underscored that Eid-ul-Fitr is not merely a celebration but a culmination of spiritual discipline attained during Ramadan, urging believers to uphold values such as piety, charity, and social responsibility throughout the year.

He also called for fostering communal harmony and encouraged efforts to address misconceptions about Islam through dialogue and mutual understanding, appealing to people of all faiths to engage with the core teachings of the religion.

Similar congregational prayers were held in various parts of the taluk. In Shirali, worshippers offered Eid prayers at local Juma mosques, while in Murdeshwar, the faithful gathered at a school ground in the National Colony area, continuing the established practice.

Following the prayers and sermon, which included Arabic and Urdu components, people exchanged Eid greetings, embracing one another in keeping with tradition. The celebrations reflected the broader message of Eid — compassion, inclusivity, and gratitude — as families and communities came together to mark the occasion.