COVID-19 Lockdown Prevents Muslims To Stay Indoors During Shab-e-Barat

Muslim community in the national capital is advised to celebrate Shab-e-Barat in the lockdown state. Delhi Police have appealed to the community that Muslims should avoid venturing out during the celebration.

Delhi Police asked for support

Delhi Police approached Muslim community to get support in their fight against COVID-19. A tweet shared by Delhi Police said that lockdown would remain enforced on the sacred night of Shab-e-Barat on April 8 and 9, 2020.

The police have been successful in keeping people restricted to their homes during lockdown period. They didn’t allow the Hindu community to congregate in temples during the holy festival of Navratri and Ram Navami on April 2. Also, the Hindu community didn’t host any rallies or congregationsduring the festival.

Shab-e-Barat celebrations

In Islam, it is called Night of Forgiveness of the Day of Atonement. For Muslims, it is an occasion when the Almighty forgives sinners, if they pray. During Shab-e-Barat, Muslims in large numbers congregate in mosques and visit graves of their departed loved ones.

Roads leading to mosques and cemeteries see large crowds of devotees. During normal time, the police were deployed close to mosques and cemeteries to ensure law and order in the Muslim community. But this year, the Muslims are asked to remain in their homes due to lockdown orders.

India is under 21-day lockdown announced by PM Modi on March 24. The lockdown will remain enforced until April 14. The government is seriously mulling over lifting lockdown on April 15.

Source: https://bit.ly/34duCEQ

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