Eid miracle! Lucknow's Eidgah Aishbagh lifts ban on women's entry

Amid raging debate over the entry of women in religious places, Lucknow's famous Eidgah in Aishbagh has for the first time made special arrangements for women allowing them to offer namaz at the premises on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr tomorrow.

Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said, "A large number of women would offer namaz along with men in separate enclosures.Though the gates of Eidgah were never closed for women but earlier separate arrangements were not made for them.This time, due to special arrangements, a large number of women will be able to offer namaz at Eidgah."

Though there is no ban on the entry of women at mazars (mausoleum), they are not seen offering namaz at mosque or Eidgah very often.

The decision taken by Aishbagh Eidgah could be termed as a progressive move, according to the maulana.

Earlier this year, a century-old ban on entry of women at Shani Singhanapur in Maharashtra was after women activists protested against the practice.

The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) had recently petitioned the Bombay High Court challenging the ban that restricts women visiting Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.