Srinagar: Eid-ul-Zuha, celebrated to remember the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim and to mark the end of Haj pilrimage, was celebrated today throughout the state with religious fervor and gaity.

Dressed in their best, men, women and children thronged mosques and shrines early this morning to offer special Eid namaz even as youths shouted slogans against US President George W Bush and , burnt flags of America in protest against the execution of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Hazratbal shrine, located on the banks of picturesque Dal lake, witnessed the largest Eid gathering with nearly two lakh devotees offering prayers.

The second largest gathering was at Jamia Masjid, the stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, where over 50,000 faithful offered Eid prayers.

After the prayers, hundreds of youth staged protest demonstrations against the execution of Saddam Hussein.

They burnt flags of the US and shouted slogans against the country and Bush.

The shrine of Syed Yaqoob Shah at Sonawar also witnessed a sizeable congregation of 30,000 at the prayers while Khanqah-e-Mualla recorded an attendance of 10,000 people.

Reports of similar congregations were received from all district and tehsil towns of the state including Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Pulwama, Kupwara, Shopian, Bandipora, Tangmarg, Sopore, Chrar-e-Sharie, Kangan, Ganderbal and Kulgam.