Ranchi/Jamshedpur: Bakrid was celebrated peacefully in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and other parts of Jharkhand amid heavy security deployments, officials said on Thursday.Thousands of devotees gathered at Idgahs and mosques at numerous places in Ranchi to offer prayers in the morning. After the ritual, they hugged each other and wished each other for the festival. Social gatherings, including visits to each other’s homes, continued throughout the day.”In Ranchi, Bakrid prayers were offered at Ekra mosque, Doranda bazaar mosque, Karbala chowk, Jafaria mosque, Kantatoli, Tharpakna mosque, Chhata mosque and Badi mosque. During a gathering at Harmu Idgah, hazarat maulana Asgar Misabahi appealed to the devotees to promote brotherhood and humanity and help the needy people.Ranchi deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri said, “Apart from administrative and police personnel, prominent members of the society cooperated with each other to ensure social harmony. The Ranchi Municipal Corporation was active in removing the remains of animals sacrificed during the festival. The exercise would continue till Saturday.”Cops kept vigil over social media to ensure peace and harmony. Around 5,000 police personnel were deployed across the state capital to maintain law and order. As many as 13 quick reaction teams under senior police officers were deployed in different zones of the district.In East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts too, the festival was celebrated with fervour and harmony. To beat the heat, organising committees scheduled the early morning special prayers across two dozen Eidgah grounds and more than 70 mosques. Massive turnouts were recorded at designated Eidgah maidans in Jugsalai, Telco, Haldipokar, Azadnagar, Sakchi, Ulidih, Dhatkidih and Kapali.Reflecting on the significance of the day, Haji Nizamuddin, 64, at the Dhatkidih mosque, remarked, “This day honours Prophet Ibrahim’s absolute devotion to God and teaches us the true meaning of sacrifice.”Muslim-majority neighbourhoods were adorned with decorative welcome gates and festive banners.In the evening, the streets and homes were illuminated with colourful lights, while the sounds of qawwalis and popular Hindi songs amplified the energetic atmosphere.Fulfilling the festive rituals, families performed the ritual sacrifice, prepared delicious biryani and sewai, and shared the feast with visiting neighbours, friends and relatives.Earlier in the day, local meat shops, milk booths and vendors selling sewai and dry fruits saw a massive rush of shoppers preparing for the feast.