Shocked by the temple stampede that left 147 people dead, Muslim clerics in Jodhpur on Wednesday asked the community to celebrate Eid with simplicity on Thursday.“We have lost our brothers in the tragedy. I appeal to the community to observe Id with ‘sadgi’ (simplicity) and without any fanfare,” prominent city cleric Shahar Kaji Mohammed Ayoob Ansari said.“We all are concerned and mourn the death of innocent people,” he said.147 devotees died in the stampede on Tuesday at the Chamuda Devi temple in Mehrangarh Fort that was thronged by a large crowd on the start of Navratra festival.“Eid is a happy occasion but after this incident, we are only observing the necessary rituals. Only special prayers will be offered as we are with our Hindu brethren in this hour of grief,” said a resident.Several Hindu organisations and political parties including Congress, BJP and Shiv Sena held condolence meetings on Wednesday.Rajasthan ministers G C Kataria (Home), R N Dudi (Revenue) and L N Dave (environment) distributed ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased, Rs.50000 to seriously injured, and Rs.5,000 to Rs.10,000 to minor injured.A pall of gloom descended in number of localities in the walled city from where most of the victims hailed.Relatives were seen preparing for tomorrow’s “fiye ki baithak” (ceremony to mark the third day after death) outside their houses.A committee set up by the Pradesh Congress Committee to enquire into the incident visited to the Chamunda Devi temple.
