In compliance with government directives, mosques across Kolkata and neighboring districts held prayers in two shifts on Friday to ensure worshippers could offer namaz within mosque premises and avoid spillover onto roads.
Staggered Congregations Across the City
Several mosques in areas like Park Circus, Beck Bagan, AJC Bose Road, Collin Street, Elliot Road, Rajabazar, and Narkeldanga organized staggered congregations. Committees coordinated closely with local police and community volunteers to manage crowds during peak prayer hours.
Nakhoda Mosque Arrangements
At Nakhoda Mosque in Zakaria Street, worshippers attended prayers in two separate jamaats held at staggered timings through the afternoon. Nasser Ebrahim, trustee of the mosque, stated: "We organized Friday prayers in two shifts so that everyone could offer namaz comfortably inside the mosque premises. We have been consistently requesting worshippers to cooperate with the arrangements, avoid praying on roads, and follow the government's guidelines. People responded positively, and the system worked smoothly."
Police Deployment and Public Cooperation
Police personnel were deployed outside major mosques to regulate movement and guide worshippers once mosque premises reached capacity during the first round of prayers. Many devotees either returned for the second shift or moved to nearby mosques. A police officer posted outside Nakhoda Mosque noted: "Last Friday, there was some confusion because many people were not aware of the new arrangements. This week, people came prepared for staggered prayers and largely complied with the guidelines."
Community Announcements and Awareness
Several mosque committees said announcements were made throughout the week urging worshippers to attend staggered congregations and avoid crowding outside mosques. In Rajabazar, Jama Masjid Rajabazar also conducted prayers in two shifts. The imam of a local mosque remarked: "We appealed to people to remain patient and cooperate with the revised timings. There was much better awareness this week, and worshippers adjusted to the arrangements without major inconvenience."
Similar Measures in Neighboring Districts
Mosques in neighboring districts, including Howrah, Hooghly, and the two Parganas, adopted similar measures during Friday prayers. Jiaul Hoque of the All India Imam Association in Hooghly stated: "Most mosques in the districts conducted prayers in two shifts, and people respected the guidelines."
