On Eid, Lucknow's Aishbagh Eidgah mosque makes history, allows women to pray

For the first time, a Lucknow mosque, Aishbagh Eidgah, opened its doors for women where they read the Eid-ul-Fitr namaz earlier on Thursday to celebrate the end of the Holy month of Ramazan.

A separate enclosure was put in place for the women to offer Eid prayers.

Women offer Eid prayers from a separate dedicated enclosure in Lucknow's Aishbagh Eidgah pic.twitter.com/FWzCzcbanl

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 7, 2016

Women offer Eid prayers from a separate dedicated enclosure in Lucknow's Aishbagh Eidgah pic.twitter.com/A668t6VPEr

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 7, 2016

Uttar Pradesh: #EidulFitr celebrations in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/bgPWBc2p2Q

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 7, 2016

According to reports, the move comes at a time when instances of women being denied entry to Haji Ali Dargah and sanctum sanctorum at Shani temple in Maharashtra have made headlines with women organisations demanding equal rights on access to places of worship at par with their male counterparts. 

Welcoming the entry of women in Lucknow's Aishbagh Eidgah on the occasion of Eid, Bhumata Brigade activist Trupti Desai on Thursday said it was a very big change and a big historical beginning.

"For the first time women were allowed to enter the mosques in Lucknow. The women are offering prayers there. It's a matter of great happiness. We had started the movement so that the Muslim women get this right. We want equality in temples, mosques and Dargah. This is a very big change. It will be a very big historical beginning," Desai said.