Social distancing subdues Eid celebrations, shops, mosques in city wear deserted look

According to Nazira Mohammed, a resident of Washermanpet, the shutdown had put a dampener on their typical tradition of visiting public places on Eid.

“My family usually goes to the beach and spends the day there. My in-laws also join us, so it is a big family outing. However, due to the shutdown regulations, we stayed at home and spent the day indoors,” she said.

For others, the religious festival is marked by spending the day with family and indulging in festivities and food. However, with international travel still closed, this changed their celebrations. “My cousins live only three streets away. They came by this year and instead of making biryani, we ordered it home. We have several cousins in Dubai and they were unable to come. The only reason Eid felt disappointing this year was because they were not here,” said Farhana Naz.

Shopkeepers state that Eid shopping this year was a subdued affair, with customers avoiding visiting the shops due to fear of the outbreak.

“I had hoped that there would be more customers, especially during Eid and following the easing of the shutdown. But this was not the case. Many of my frequent customers had sent me messages saying that they would visit the shop after the situation was safer,” said a textile shop owner in Washermanpet.

Mosques across the city remained closed in adherence to the directives stated by the government. “We sent out messages to all mosques to remain close to avoid congregations. We told people that they could pray from their homes or their terraces to avoid contact. It is different from typical celebrations, but safety is most important,” said an association member of a local mosque.