Eidul Fitri Celebrations Around the World Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns

Muslims around the world celebrate a sombre Eidul Fitr on Sunday, 24 May 2020, amid coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns, but lax restrictions offer respite to worshippers in some countries despite fears of skyrocketing infections.  

Eidul Fitr, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is traditionally celebrated with mosque prayers, family feasts and shopping for new clothes, gifts and sweet treats. 

But this year, the celebration is overshadowed by the fast-spreading respiratory disease, with many countries tightening lockdown restrictions after a partial easing during Ramadan led to a sharp spike in infections.  The coronavirus pandemic has brought about unprecedented restrictions in some countries, where prayers in mosques and public celebrations are barred.

Several countries, both restricted and non-restricted, celebrated the feast publicly as usual while some take heed of the restrictions. Countries in the Arab world, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, America, Caribbean and Australia celebrated the Eidul Fitri as COVID law implied in their countries while some defied.

 

Meanwhile, Muslims across Asia from Indonesia to Pakistan, Malaysia and Afghanistan thronged markets for pre-festival shopping, flouting coronavirus guidelines and sometimes even police attempts to disperse large crowds.

Pakistan, which gave into religious pressure by allowing mosque prayers throughout the fasting of Ramadan, observed mass gatherings during the Eid in some of its states.

Some parts of African countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Gambia observed the Eid prayers publicly en mass as usual.