Kathmandu, November 4:

The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Rastriya Janshakti Party, in separate press statements issued here today, expressed their best wishes, happiness and prosperity to the entire Muslim community on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr, which is celebrated at the end of the Ramzan, the month-long tradition of fasting.

In a statement, NC president Girija Prasad Koirala said the ultimate goal of religion is to protect living creatures and maintain peace and goodwill in society. “The ongoing violence has affected all sections of society,” Koirala regretted. He said that a solution to the conflict could be found through the collective efforts of all, but the present regime was trying to steamroller people by suspending civic rights.

UML’s acting general secretary Bamdev Gautam said that various cultures and festivals of different religions have contributed to keep peace and goodwill in this country of multicultural and multi-linguistic traditions and multi-cultural genuflections. He hoped Id-ul-Fitr would provide inspiration to all for bringing an end to the King’s autocracy and establishing full democracy through an election to a constituent assembly.

RJP president and former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, expressed the hope that Id-ul-Fitr would contribute to maintaining mutual goodwill, fraternity and equality in a society affected by the continuing conflict. In a press statement, the general secretary of the National Muslim Forum Nepal, Maulana Gulam Rasul, also expressed best wishes to all countrymen on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr. “We pray to Allah to help Nepalis find peace and law and order in the country,” said the general secretary of the National Muslim Forum.

Meanwhile, a report from Bara said Muslims here celebrated the Id-ul-Fitr with much fanfare, today. According to the tradition, they celebrated the holy festival, Id, after a month long Roja (fasting). Beginning from the early this morning, the Muslims visited the nearby Idgah (Praying location) and recited the Namaj. On this occasion, the relatives and neighbours are invited to the house and serve them special delicacies, Sewai. Muslims consist 15 per cent of Bara’s total population and are densely populated in Ganjbhawanipur, Jitpur, Bariyarpur, Simraungarh, Parawanipur, Lipanimal including the district headquarters, Kaliya.