New Delhi/ Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 : Muslims across the country thronged markets for last minute shopping ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Men, women and children wear new clothes, buy sweets, feast with their family and friends, and wish each other a happy Eid. They also embrace each other in a typical manner and wish.

Garment and shoe shops situated in busy parts of Delhi outside 'Jama Masjid' witnessed a huge number of customers. They were purchasing new clothes and shoes as it is considered auspicious to wear new clothes on Eid.

"It is the grace of god that Eid is now on the 30 (day) instead of the 29 (day) as that way we will get one more day of fasting. The activities in the market are a message that people should wear new clothes, and eat sweets before leaving home. Even the poorest will buy new clothes for his children," said Mohammad Shahid, a shopkeeper.

Muslim clergy decide the date of Eid, on the basis of sighting of the moon.

Mufti Mohd Mukkaram Ahmed, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Fatehpuri Masjid, after a meeting of the Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee on Friday, announced that Eid will be celebrated in the country on Sunday.

Muslim clerics in Delhi were speculating that Eid-ul-Fitr would be celebrated on Saturday.

Sabra Begum, a resident, said: "We have made all the preparations for Eid today itself and whatever is left we will do it tomorrow. We all are happy that our 30 days of fasting will now be complete."

The three-day Eid celebration marks the end of the holy fasting, month of Ramadan.

Muslims in Kerala are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr today, marking the culmination of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Devotees turned up in large numbers in mosques and specially set up 'Idgahs' across the state for Eid namaz led by religious heads.
The celebrations had begun since Friday evening.

Imam Hamsa Moulavi Farooqi led the 'perunal namaskaram' (Id namaz) at the famous Palayam mosque in the heart of the city in Thiruvananthapuram.

At many places in Kerala, food packets and garments were distributed among the poor and the needy as part of the celebrations. Special distributions were organised by Muslim charity and cultural outfits.

During Ramadan, Muslims do not take food or water from dawn to dusk. They also devote their time to worship and studying of the Quran. They eat a pre-dawn meal, called Sehri and at the end of the day, called Iftar.

The Muslims refrain from indecent acts and improper thoughts, nor do they make offensive gestures or unkind words during the period.

Millions of Muslims across India began marking the fasting month on September 14, after the sighting of new moon.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri lunar calendar, commemorates the revelation of Quran, Islam's holy book, and has traditionally been a time of religious fervour, settling old disputes and behaving charitably towards neighbours. (ANI)