Kolkata: Muslims across the city started fasting on Saturday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan and prayed indoors. Community market for selling iftar items like fruits and snacks were also set up in some minority areas maintaining social distancing amid ongoing lockdown to prevent Coronavirus.
Earlier in March, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited different markets and herself drew circles on road to earmark the spots in front of vegetable shops where people should stand maintaining safe distance while procuring essential commodities. She had also distributed masks among people at Lake Market.
Dr Shashi Panja, Minister of State for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare distributed dal, dry fruits, onion and edible oil among 500 women belonging to the minority community. Dr Prasun Panja and Rajesh Sinha also joined the minister in distributing the packet to the people.
"I am fasting today. Abiding government's guidelines and appeal from clerics, I performed Taraweeh namaz (special night namaz during the Ramadan) in my house," said Parvez Akhtar, resident of Bright Street.
Community market for selling fruits for iftar with proper demarcation points of the sellers and buyers were set up in the evening in Bright Street and Kidderpore.
"Community market, consisting of only five stalls, was in set up by locals in our locality to sell essential iftar items such as dates, watermelons, etc," said Sk Wasim, a resident of Kidderpore.
He reiterated that the Nawab Ali Park in his locality was turned into a morning vegetable and fruit market last week from 6 to 11 am. Only 30 to 50 people are allowed to enter the market maintaining social distancing. Police
officials have deployed to make sure that people should buy vegetables and fruits and leave the market within 15
minutes.
"I bought fruits in the morning for iftar. There was no confirmation whether special evening market during Ramadan will be set up in our locality or not," said Afaque Haider, resident of Raja Bazar.