Namaz time changed in the background of Holi celebrations at Lucknow, UP 

Editorial comments

  • Hindus have been reading news about pelting of stones through mosques or Hindus getting attacked on their festival days, but with Yogi Adityanath, a devout Hindu as the Chief Minister of UP, now one can get to read even such kind of news ! 
  • Nobody should call it the generosity or tolerance shown by the minority. Some factions are in awe because Yogi Adityanath has been elected with a huge margin by the Hindu electorate. These factions know that no-nonsense would be tolerated on the day of the Holi festival. One can, therefore, say that the decision has been taken in such a background ! 

Lucknow (UP) – At least 22 mosques in Uttar Pradesh have decided to change their Friday’s namaz time due to the Holi festival. In most of the mosques in Lucknow, the Friday namaz and Khutba (discourse) is held at 12.30 p.m. This year Holi festival and Shab-e-Barat is going to be celebrated on the same day all over the country, therefore, the mosques in the city will be holding namaz at 1.30 p.m. This information has been given by the Islamic Centre of India (ICI). Muslims will be celebrating Shab-e-Barat on the day of the Holi festival and this day, they go to mosques in large numbers for namaz as they believe that Allah forgives their sins if they sincerely seek pardon on this day.

  1. Some of the mosques that have changed their namaz time are – Jama Masjid of Aishbagh Eidgah, a minara mosque at Akbari Gate, and Shahmina Shah Masjid.
  2. Imam Maulana Rashid of Aishbagh Eidgah and ICI leader said that it was suggested that namaz timings on the day of the Holi festival should be changed to avoid untoward incidents.
  3. Shab-e-Barat is also on the same day; therefore, maulana has advised Muslims to visit mosques and tombs of their dear ones after the programme; so also visit mosques that are close to their residence rather than visiting mosques that are far from their homes.