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Photos: Despite death and gloom in Bangladesh, South Asia cheers up for Eid

The festival of love.
The festival of love.
Image: AP Photo/Shakil Adil
By
Quartz Staff
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Muslims in South Asia, like those across the world, are celebrating Eid, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

They thronged mosques to offer prayers, relished delicacies, and visited fairs in their best fineries. In India, mass prayers were organised on the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, and other major cities. In Pakistan, festivities involved camel and roller-coaster rides. Spirits were high in earthquake-hit Nepal, too.

However, another gruesome terrorist attack in Bangladesh dampened spirits in that country. On July 7, two people were killed and at least 9 injured in blasts at the Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj town, about 140 km northeast of the capital, Dhaka. This comes just days after a popular Dhaka cafe was put under siege by suspected Islamic State (IS) terrorists, resulting in the death of over 20 people.

This year Ramadan witnessed unprecedented violence with radical Islamic groups killing hundreds in Muslim-dominated areas.

Nevertheless, Eid brought a semblance of relief and joy to the community in South Asia.

Here’s a peek into the celebrations in the region:

Eid al-Fitr-Eid-Muhammad
Indian Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers in Hyderabad on July 7, 2016.
Image: AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.
Prayers being offered at New Delhi’s Jama mosque on July 7, 2016.
Prayers being offered at New Delhi’s Jama mosque on July 7, 2016.
Image: AP Photo/Manish Swarup
The devout mark the end of Ramadan at a mosque in the Taj Mahal complex in Agra.
The devout mark the end of Ramadan at a mosque in the Taj Mahal complex in Agra.
Image: Reuters/Pawan Kumar
A boy offers Eid prayers in Mumbai.
A boy offers Eid prayers in Mumbai.
Image: AP Photo/ Rajanish Kakade
Muslims greet each other at the Shams mosque on the outskirts of Mumbai, India.
Muslims greet each other at the Shams mosque on the outskirts of Mumbai, India.
Image: EPA/Divyakant Solanki
A Nepalese Muslim at Kashmiri Mashjid in Kathmandu, Nepal.
A Nepalese Muslim at Kashmiri Mashjid in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Image: EPA/Narendra Shrestha
Prayers being offered at Mumbai’s Shams mosque.
Prayers being offered at Mumbai’s Shams mosque.
Image: EPA/Divyakant Solanki
The devout leave Shams mosque after prayers.
The devout leave Shams mosque after prayers.
Image: EPA/Divyakant Solanki
Nepalese Muslims at Kashmiri Mashjid in Kathmandu.
Nepalese Muslims at Kashmiri Mashjid in Kathmandu.
Image: EPA/Narendra Shrestha
Prayers at Kashmiri Mashjid.
Prayers at Kashmiri Mashjid.
Image: EPA/Narendra Shrestha
Inside another Kathmandu mosque.
Inside another Kathmandu mosque.
Image: Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar
Nepalese Muslim girls take a selfie at Kashmiri Mashjid.
Nepalese Muslim girls take a selfie at Kashmiri Mashjid.
Image: EPA/Narendra Shrestha
Eid-Prophet-Fasting-Ramadan
Religious fervour in Mumbai.
Image: AP Photo/ Rajanish Kakade
Youngsters play with toy guns during Eid festivities in Karachi, Pakistan, on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.
Youngsters play with toy guns during Eid festivities in Karachi, Pakistan, on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.
Image: AP Photo/Shakil Adil
Eid prayers at the historical Badshahi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.
Eid prayers at the historical Badshahi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.
Image: AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary
A Pakistani woman prays at Lahore’s Badshahi mosque.
A Pakistani woman prays at Lahore’s Badshahi mosque.
Image: AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary
Pakistani women share greetings at the Badshahi mosque.
Pakistani women share greetings at the Badshahi mosque.
Image: AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary
Pakistani children enjoy a camel ride at a fair to celebrate the Eid.
Pakistani children enjoy a camel ride at a fair to celebrate the Eid.
Image: AP Photo/Anjum Naveed
A ride at an Eid fair in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
A ride at an Eid fair in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Image: AP Photo/Anjum Naveed