Muslims celebrate Eid across Russia amid virus

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

Prayers were held in Moscow's Cathedral Mosque but there were restrictions on the number of worshippers allowed in.

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

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

Depending on local guidelines, mosques were required to abide by social distancing rules and limits on the 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 the 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 the sacrificial slaughter of lambs.

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

(Representative Image)