Eid celebrated with devotion across Braj region
Eid-al-Azha was celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm across the Braj region on Saturday.
In Agra, the world heritage monument Taj Mahal was open free of charge for two hours in the morning—from 7 am to 9 am—to allow worshippers to offer namaz at the mosque within its premises.
Security was stepped up to ensure smooth conduct of the celebrations. Police teams patrolled the lanes around Jama Masjid, with deputy commissioner of police (City) Sonam Kumar leading a round in the Old City area and inspecting the Taj Mahal premises for preparedness.
A large number of namazis gathered at the Taj Mahal and stood in neat rows to offer prayers. Following tradition, the Archaeological Survey of India had ordered free entry for a two-hour window on Eid morning.
Impressive gatherings were also witnessed at Jama Masjid and Eidgah, where tents were set up and a cleanliness drive was undertaken by the local body. Those attending exchanged Eid greetings after offering prayers.
In Mathura, Muslims gathered at the Shahi Eidgah mosque amid tight security. Peaceful celebrations were reported from Etah, Kasganj, and Hathras in the Aligarh division.
In Firozabad and Mainpuri, there was a good turnout of namazis.
A large number of people offered namaz at Shah Jamal Eidgah in Aligarh, where city mufti Mohammad Hamid Khalid led the dua (prayers) for peace and harmony.
Traffic restrictions were in place across Aligarh for the festival. No heavy vehicles were allowed to enter the city from 5 am onwards, and the city was divided into seven zones under a sector scheme to manage the day's proceedings smoothly.
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Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Eid celebrated with devotion across Braj region
Eid-al-Azha was celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm across the Braj region on Saturday. In Agra, the world heritage monument Taj Mahal was open free of charge for two hours in the morning—from 7 am to 9 am—to allow worshippers to offer namaz at the mosque within its premises. Security was stepped up to ensure smooth conduct of the celebrations. Police teams patrolled the lanes around Jama Masjid, with deputy commissioner of police (City) Sonam Kumar leading a round in the Old City area and inspecting the Taj Mahal premises for preparedness. A large number of namazis gathered at the Taj Mahal and stood in neat rows to offer prayers. Following tradition, the Archaeological Survey of India had ordered free entry for a two-hour window on Eid morning. Impressive gatherings were also witnessed at Jama Masjid and Eidgah, where tents were set up and a cleanliness drive was undertaken by the local body. Those attending exchanged Eid greetings after offering prayers. In Mathura, Muslims gathered at the Shahi Eidgah mosque amid tight security. Peaceful celebrations were reported from Etah, Kasganj, and Hathras in the Aligarh division. In Firozabad and Mainpuri, there was a good turnout of namazis. A large number of people offered namaz at Shah Jamal Eidgah in Aligarh, where city mufti Mohammad Hamid Khalid led the dua (prayers) for peace and harmony. Traffic restrictions were in place across Aligarh for the festival. No heavy vehicles were allowed to enter the city from 5 am onwards, and the city was divided into seven zones under a sector scheme to manage the day's proceedings smoothly.
The Print
9 hours ago
- The Print
Not a seat left vacant as J&K's all-new Vande Bharat makes first journey from Katra to Srinagar
Two passenger trains will run daily from Katra to Srinagar—one at 8:10 am and another at 2:55 pm. The trains were launched on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha. In fact, according to the IRCTC website, the pairs of trains for Saturday and Sunday were fully booked within hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating them 6 June. Katra/Jammu: When the Vande Bharat Express left the Katra railway station at 8:10 am Saturday on its first commercial journey to Srinagar, it was 100 percent booked. The return journey is also fully booked, as are the train's journeys on Sunday. The 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) will provide all-weather connectivity. The historic line connects Kashmir not just to Jammu but to the rest of India via a railway line for the first time. On Friday, PM Modi flagged off two train services: one from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Railway Station in Katra to Srinagar, and the other from Srinagar to Katra. Alongside, the prime minister also inaugurated the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab as well as the country's first cable-stayed bridge of the Indian Railways over Anji Khad. Within Jammu and Kashmir, trains have so far been operational between Banihal and Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley, and between Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra in the Jammu region. But for the first, a direct train link from Jammu's Katra to Srinagar has opened. The launch of this rail link comes just weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Kashmir has seen a dip in tourism since the 22 April attack, and the new train service is being seen as a move toward restoring normalcy in the Valley. In his address, PM Modi said the attack on tourists in Pahalgam was an attempt to 'engineer communal clashes across the country and deprive the people of Kashmir of their livelihood.' Also Read: What Indian Railways needs right now—safety more than speed The inaugural run On 6 June, the inaugural Vande Bharat Express ran from Katra to Sangaldan in Ramban district, and a second service ran from Srinagar to Sangaldan. To reach the station, the train passed through two key engineering landmarks: the Anji Khad cable-stayed bridge and the towering Chenab rail bridge—the tallest railway bridge in the world. In its journey to Sangalda, the train goes through breathtaking lush green hills, stretches of pine forest, and a series of tunnels—almost one every half a kilometre—cut through rugged terrain. According to Northern Railway spokesperson Dilip Kumar, the train has been designed using advanced technology to operate in J&K's tough topographic and climatic conditions. 'The train has been equipped with such technology that it will warm up to provide comfort to the passengers during intense winters the region witnesses,' Kumar told ThePrint. The most challenging part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project was constructing the Chenab rail bridge—made of steel and concrete. It was a difficult task as the region falls in a high-risk seismic zone and witnesses frequent spells of gusty winds. After several trial runs, the train was finally launched on 6 June. According to the railway officials, the Chenab bridge can withstand wind speeds up to 260 km/h. It has a projected lifespan of 120 years. 'This is not any general railway line but an engineering marvel. It's the feather in the cap of Indian Railways and a proud moment for the engineers and everyone involved in building this bridge,' Kumar said. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Now Katra to Srinagar in just 3 hrs. PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat linking Kashmir to rest of India
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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
'Racist, hostile and against global law': Iran slams Trump's travel ban
Iran has lashed out at the United States (US) over a sweeping travel ban that targets Iranian nationals and citizens from 11 other countries, mostly Middle Eastern and African. The move, Tehran says, is rooted in a "supremacist and racist mentality" and reflects Washington's enduring animosity toward Muslims, reported The Guardian. The criticism follows a fresh executive order signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump, reviving controversial travel restrictions that echo his first-term policy. The decision, according to US officials, was based on national security concerns—coming just days after a firebomb attack at a pro-Israel rally in Colorado that left over a dozen injured. The suspect was later identified as an Egyptian man who had overstayed his US tourist visa. But Iran isn't buying the justification. Alireza Hashemi-Raja, director General for the Affairs of Iranians Abroad at Iran's Foreign Ministry, issued a statement on Saturday, calling the measure 'a clear sign of the dominance of a supremacist and racist mentality among American policymakers.' Describing the order as 'discriminatory,' Hashemi-Raja said the travel restrictions undermine basic human rights and violate fundamental principles of international law. 'The decision indicates the deep hostility of American decision makers towards the Iranian and Muslim people,' he said, warning that such policies could trigger international legal consequences for the US government. The new restrictions, which will come into effect on June 9, also apply to nationals of Iran, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. A partial ban has also been placed on travellers from seven additional countries, although their names have not been publicly disclosed. Relations between Iran and the US have remained frosty for decades, especially since diplomatic ties were severed following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. While political tensions have persisted, the human connection remains significant—the US is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran. According to Iran's foreign ministry, around 1.5 million Iranians lived in the US as of 2020.
