Muslims celebrate Eid across Russia amid virus

Muslims across Russia marked Eid al-ha holiday - kwn locally as Qurban Bayram - on Friday although celebrations were muted because of coronavirus pandemic.

Prayers were held in Moscow's Cadral Mosque but re were restrictions on number of worshippers allowed in.

"On this central Islamic holiday, let me once again wholeheartedly congratulate all Russians and Muslims with holiday of Qurban Bayram," said Damir Mukhetdiv, first deputy he of Muslim spiritual directorate of Russia.

Prayers were held at mosques all across Russia for country's estimated 20 million Muslims, including in republics of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan and Chechnya.

Depending on local guidelines, mosques were required to abide by social distancing rules and limits on number of people inside. Some mosques held prayers outside mosques to allow for more people to participate.

"I can't express how inspired and elated I am by fact that I can simply come out and pray," said Hassan Chamerzaev, a worshipper in  Chechnya's capital Grozny.

After prayers, many believers went to designated places for sacrificial slaughter of lambs.

Russia has over 838,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Restrictions in many regions have been lifted after a drop in number of new daily infections.

(Representative Im)