People across Iran mark Eid al-Fitr at end of holy month of Ramadan

The Office of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei announced Sunday as Ei-al-Fitr after it received multiple reports from reliable religious scholars on the sighting of the new moon.

Ayatollah Khamenei would have led the Eid prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds in Tehran as in the past, but the event was cancelled due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Nevertheless, Eid prayers were held in 110 mosques in the capital under strict health protocols.

Alireza Zali, the head of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the coronavirus in Tehran, asked those with COVID-19 symptoms, people over 65, pregnant women as well as those suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and uncontrolled blood pressure to skip going to public places for Eid prayers.

In a message to Iranians, President Hassan Rouhani congratulated them on Eid al-Fitr, wishing that God would accept their fasting, prayers and good deeds.

Eid al-Fitr marks the beginning of the lunar month of Shawwal and the end of Ramadan — the ninth month in the Islamic calendar — when Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and other corporal pleasures from dawn to dusk.