Last Friday prayers offered ahead of Eid celebrations

Muslims across the country offered prayers today marking the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Lucknow/Srinagar/Mumbai, Oct 12 : Muslims across the country offered prayers today marking the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

In Lucknow, thousands of Muslims attended special prayers held in mosques.

"We wait for this day the entire year. We are really happy today," said Mohammad Irfan.

In Srinagar, hundreds of Muslims thronged mosques.

"Today is the last prayer of the month of Ramzan. Today, we get an opportunity to apologies for our sins and our mistake, which we have committed in the last one year," said Mohammad Ismail.

Similar scenes were seen in Mumbai where thousands of Muslim attended the prayers.

Ramadan is a dawn to dusk fast observed by the Muslims for a period of 30 days. The holy month of fasting this year ends on Saturday.

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 are required to refrain from indecent acts and improper thoughts, nor may 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.

The end of Ramadan heralds the festival of Eid ul fitr.

ANI