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No open grounds Eid congregation this year, says ministry

The Islamic Ministry has announced that the EId-Al-Adha prayers will not be held in open grounds this year in capital Male’.

Eid-Al-Adha this year falls on July 31, Friday.

In recent years, the Maldives has been holding Eid prayers in large, open spaces as per Islamic customs. However, the congregation will not be held in open grounds in Male’ this year and instead will be performed at all mosques that hold the Friday congregational prayers, said the Islamic Ministry. The decision was made as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.

The decision to hold the open-grounds congregation in the islands will be made by the respective island councils, added the ministry.

Congregational prayers at mosques in the capital were suspended earlier in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mosques closed its doors to individual worshippers later in April after community spread was identified in the capital. All mosques have now resumed congregation with strict physical distancing measures.