Eid congregations to be held in four regions across GMR

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has revealed that Eid-Al-Fitr congregations will be held across four regions in the Greater Malé Region this year.

The ministry revealed that the Eid congregational prayer will be held this year, in 22 mosques across the Greater Malé Region comprising of Malé, Hulhumalé and Villimalé just like previous years.

The annual mass congregation for Eid-Al-Fitr prayer will be held at Maafannu Stadium, in Malé City.

A mass congregation will also be held in Villimalé football stadium and the Synthetic Track area in Hulhumalé Phase I.

The mass congregation in Hulhumalé Phase II will take place in the cricket stadium region.

According to the Islamic Ministry, Eid prayers in Malé City will be held at all mosques where Friday prayers are held, if the mass congregations require to be cancelled due to unwelcoming weather conditions.

On March 20, the ministry announced changes to the time Eid congregations will begin.

Although Eid congregations had commenced at 7:30am across different parts of the Maldives for years, it has now been amended due to a number of reasons.

The change was made as 7:30am is a time the heat from the rising sun intensifies, and as Eid congregations are being held across vacant areas and fields without shade in the Maldives and as several members of the public including the elderly, those with special needs, the less-abled as well as children take part in the congregations would have to bear the brunt of the morning sun.

As such, the ministry has set 7am as the time Eid congregations will begin from 2024 onwards.

Eid-Al-Fitr falls on April 10 this year, marking April 9 the last day of Ramadan 1445.

The people are urged to perform their ablution at home and carry their own water bottles, prayer mats and a non-plastic bag to carry their slippers, when they attend the congregation or the mosque.

The government has been holding mass congregations at stadiums for many years now, with the first one held in 2012.

Eid prayers are performed in congregation twice a year during Eid-Al-Adha and Eid-Al-Fitr, the latter marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan which is celebrated by Muslim communities globally.

Performing the Eid prayer in congregation is a holy practice among the Muslim communities.