Inside a small mosque in Maliyana village, nearly 80 kilometres from New Delhi, around 50 worshippers gathered beneath humming ceiling fans to discuss arrangements for Eid prayers. The conversation focused not on sacrificial rituals or charity, but on barricades, police permissions, crowd movement, and the risk of attracting official action.
Members of the mosque management committee repeatedly instructed worshippers not to gather outside mosque gates, to avoid arguments, and to refrain from recording or responding to provocative videos online. Many attendees silently checked police advisories circulating through messaging groups, while others exchanged uneasy glances over growing uncertainty surrounding the festival.
Maliyana remains deeply scarred by history. In May 1987, 72 Muslims were killed in the village during a massacre involving Hindu mobs and personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary. After decades of legal proceedings, a district court in 2023 acquitted dozens of the accused due to insufficient evidence.
The fears surrounding this year’s Eid celebrations, however, stem from more recent developments. Over the past decade, right-wing Hindu organisations, strengthened politically after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, have increasingly opposed Muslims offering prayers in public spaces, citing traffic disruptions and security concerns.
Public prayers conducted on roads, parks, and vacant land have repeatedly triggered protests, viral social media campaigns, and administrative restrictions. In several instances, authorities withdrew permissions previously granted for mass prayers after videos of worshippers circulated online.
Last week, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a prominent Hindu nationalist organisation aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party, demanded a nationwide ban on prayers conducted on roads, describing the gatherings as a public display of strength by the Muslim community.
Muslim residents argue that such restrictions ignore practical realities. Many mosques and designated Eid prayer grounds lack the capacity to accommodate large congregations during Friday prayers and major religious festivals, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
The issue has become especially sensitive in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, where nearly 39 million Muslims reside. Since 2017, the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has intensified action against prayers held on roads and open spaces.
On May 18, Adityanath publicly stated that Muslims should offer Eid prayers “in shifts” and warned that authorities would adopt “another method” if people failed to comply peacefully. The remarks triggered widespread concern among Muslim communities already alarmed by previous crackdowns.
Residents across the state recalled earlier incidents in which police cases were filed against worshippers accused of praying in open spaces without permission. Some alleged that homes were demolished and administrative verifications linked to passports and driving licences were disrupted following such incidents.
A resident of Meerut, speaking anonymously due to fear of repercussions, said memories of those actions had created widespread panic ahead of Eid. Arif Malik, a shopkeeper from Aligarh district, said police chased worshippers after prayers held briefly in an open ground during last year’s Eid celebrations.
“This year, families are advising people to avoid crowds,” he said.
Across Uttar Pradesh, mosque committees are quietly restructuring prayer arrangements to minimise visibility and avoid confrontation. In several towns, organisers have reduced congregation sizes, scheduled multiple prayer sessions, and instructed worshippers to disperse immediately after prayers conclude.
Mohammad Arif, a mosque committee member in Meerut who has coordinated Eid prayers for nearly two decades, said local committees have held repeated meetings regarding crowd management and methods to avoid disputes with authorities.
“People are carefully considering movement, visibility, and even where prayer mats should be placed,” he said.
Arshad, a shopkeeper in Meerut, described a growing atmosphere of fear surrounding religious gatherings.
“Earlier, Eid mornings felt joyful. Now tension begins the night before. People constantly worry about police intervention or videos being uploaded online,” he said.
Several Muslims interviewed said they now monitor where they stand during prayers, how long they remain outside mosques, and whether gatherings could trigger complaints or social media outrage.
In Old Delhi near the historic Jama Masjid, traders preparing for Eid business said conversations about prayer restrictions dominate local markets and tea stalls. Danish Khan, a garment seller, said people simply wanted to complete prayers peacefully and return home, but uncertainty now accompanies every major religious occasion.
Despite growing apprehension, preparations for Eid continue across northern India. Markets remain crowded late into the night, tailors rush to complete pending orders, and children continue shopping for clothes, shoes, and sweets. Inside mosques, volunteers clean carpets and arrange drinking water for expected worshippers.
However, anxiety extends beyond prayers. The ritual animal sacrifice associated with Eid al-Adha is also under strict scrutiny. Authorities have issued warnings against allowing blood or waste to enter public roads or drainage systems, while social media campaigns and televised debates continue focusing heavily on Muslim religious practices.
Many Muslims told Al Jazeera that repeated controversies surrounding religious identity — including disputes over the hijab, halal food, and mosque loudspeaker calls to prayer — have created a broader sense of vulnerability within the community.
Faizan Ali, a software engineer from Noida, said the cumulative effect of such controversies has made many Muslims feel that every aspect of their identity is being questioned.
“Even prayer becomes something people think about cautiously,” he said.
Analysts say the dispute surrounding public prayers reflects a deeper transformation in India’s social and political landscape, where Muslim visibility in public spaces has increasingly become contested.
Nadeem Khan, an activist and researcher focusing on religion and public spaces, said fear surrounding public assembly during one of Islam’s most important festivals reflected broader tensions over belonging and visibility in contemporary India.
Critics also highlighted what they describe as selective enforcement of public order regulations. While authorities have imposed restrictions on Muslim prayers, large Hindu religious processions and celebrations frequently receive police protection, traffic diversions, and administrative support.
A lawyer based in New Delhi, who requested anonymity fearing official retaliation, said the unequal application of rules raises constitutional concerns regarding equality before the law and religious freedom.
The controversy surrounding public prayers has intensified further because restrictions are increasingly accompanied by punitive administrative measures. In several Bharatiya Janata Party-governed states, police cases have been registered against Muslims accused of organising prayers in open spaces without permission. Authorities have also carried out demolitions targeting homes or properties allegedly linked to organisers.
Critics argue that these measures criminalise routine acts of worship and transform ordinary religious gatherings into issues of law enforcement and political control.
Sociologist Azhar Ahmad Khan said the debate over public prayers ultimately concerns legitimacy, visibility, and the right to occupy public space in modern India.
As Eid al-Adha approaches, Muslim communities across Uttar Pradesh continue preparing for one of their most significant religious festivals under an atmosphere shaped by caution, uncertainty, and fear of official scrutiny.
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