Bakrid was celebrated in Hyderabad on Thursday with thousands of devotees gathering at Idgahs and mosques across the city for special congregational prayers and family get-togethers.

The special Id prayers began as early as 6 a.m. at Hockey Ground opposite Nawab Shah Alam Khan College in New Malakpet and continued with different timings at other locations.

From the historic Mir Alam Idgah to Mecca Masjid and Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, devotees began arriving in the early hours dressed in simple white attire, greeting one another with hugs and prayers amid greetings of ‘Eid Mubarak’.

At the Mir Alam Idgah, one of the city’s largest prayer congregations, rows of worshippers stretched across the grounds and spilled over to the nearby roads under tight security arrangements for 9.30 a.m. prayers.

Police restricted traffic movement on the busy Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway anticipating the rush. Similar scenes were witnessed at Masjid-e-Aziziya, Mecca Masjid and several Idgahs in the suburbs.

Three major Idgahs in the Golconda zone, Hockey Ground, First Lancer and Langar Houz, also witnessed sizeable gatherings during the morning prayers.

“It is not just a festival, it is an emotion for Hyderabadis,” said Mohammed Faizan, 32, who attended prayers with his family at Mecca Masjid. “Every year, seeing thousands gather together in peace gives a different feeling.”

“There was hardly any place to walk last night,” laughed Hina Begum, a resident of Yakutpura who had come for shopping with relatives. “But that crowd is part of the Id experience here. If Charminar is not packed before Id, it feels incomplete.”

In areas such as Mehdipatnam and Mallepally, seasonal cattle markets and temporary stalls saw brisk activity in the run-up to the festival, with traders reporting strong business despite soaring temperatures.

Across several malls in the city, festive showcases under ‘Jashn-e-Hyderabad’ featured cultural performances, local handicrafts and food stalls as families stepped out for celebrations after morning prayers.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements were put in place across Hyderabad and neighbouring commissionerates to manage crowds and maintain law and order during the festival.

Thousands of police personnel, including Armed Reserve and task force teams, were deployed at major Idgahs, mosques, markets and sensitive areas. High-definition CCTV cameras, barricades, vehicle checkposts and temporary command centres were also set up across several parts of the city.

DCP Golconda zone G. Chandra Mohan said Bakrid prayers and rituals were conducted peacefully across the zone. “We deployed more forces than last year, including both law and order and traffic personnel. All prayers were completed by around 10.30 a.m. without any issues. Qurbani and other rituals were also wrapped up by afternoon,” he said.

Referring to traffic movement near Langar Houz, the DCP said the area had witnessed congestion during Bakrid celebrations last year, but movement remained smooth this time due to better arrangements and deployment.