Wednesday, January 11 2006 15:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Early morning prayers followed by traditional festivities marked celebration of 'Eid-ul-Azha' in the capital, as President A P J Abdul Kalam led Delhiites in celebrating the festival.

Kalam offered namaz at the mosque in the Presidential Estate at 9:00 AM, after which he exchanged greetings with the other 'namazis', a Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesman said.

Lakhs of Muslims congregated at the mosques in the capital, including the historic Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid.

Addressing the congregation at Fatehpuri Masjid, Maulana Mufti Mohammed Mukarram Ahmed appealed to the people to celebrate the festival in a simple manner to express sympathy with the earthquake-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The holy story of the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim and his son Hazrat Ismail was narrated to the devotees at the mosques.

Markets, especially in Walled City area of Delhi, wore a festive look, as people indulged in shopping for the festival.

People also bought sacrificial animals like goats and lambs for the traditional Bakr-Eid sacrifice.