Eid celebrated in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19 (IANS) Thousands of Muslims across Kerala celebrated Eid-Ul-Fitr Sunday by offering prayers and listening to clerics' sermons at Eidgahs.

Eid celebrations were more visible in Muslim-dominated districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargode.

Muslims account for more than 24 percent of Kerala's 32-million population.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the festival was celebrated at Chandrasekheran Nair Stadium next to the Palayam Juma Musjid where hundreds of people listened to the talk of Jamaludhin, the mosque's imam.

In Kochi, Malayalam superstar Mammootty offered prayers at an Eidgah with his son Dulqar Salman.

In Kozhikode, Muslims from different factions organised a common Eidgah for all like last year.

The state government has declared Monday a holiday for Eid.