Kozhikode: After 30 days of predawn-to-dusk fasting and evening mass prayers, Muslims across Kerala, except those in Kasaragod district, celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday.
Believers in Kazaragod, the northern district of Kerala celebrated the festival on Sunday with the sighting of the moon of Shawwal, the month following Ramzan, in Bhatkal in neighboring Karnataka.
Prayer meets were held in various parts of the state on Monday. Eid was celebrated in Oman also on Monday. Believers, including woman and children, took part in mass prayers in various parts of the state.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE also celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday to mark the end of fasting month of Ramzan.
Eid ul-Fitr, which means "festival of breaking the fast", marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramzan. Traditional feasts were prepared in Muslim houses with an array of ethnic delicacies.
Religious leaders in the state declared the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal on Monday as none sighted the new moon after Saturday's Iftar.
Eid-gahs were be arranged for prayers in most towns on Monday morning.
Shops and markets across the state, particularly in Malabar region, witnessed a heavy rush on Friday and Saturday.
Governor extends Eid greetings
Kerala governor justice (Rtd) P. Sathasivam and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan have greeted people of the state on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.
"I convey my heartiest greetings to the Keralites all over the world on the solemn occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the holy month Ramadan," Sathasivam said.
Public holiday on Monday
All banks in the state remain closed on Monday, on account of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The holiday was declared following the demand raised by bank employees' organizations to declare a holiday as per Negotiable Instruments Act.
The registrar had announced that Monday will be a holiday for all cooperatives coming under the cooperative registrar.
All offices of electricity board also remain closed.
The Kerala government had earlier declared a public holiday for all educational institutions and government offices on Monday.