Chants of Ganpati bappa moraya could be heard from every nook and corner as the city of Mumbai grandly and gracefully welcome the most awaited festivals of the year the Ganesh Chaturthi. Also known as Vinayak Chaturthi this festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. This festival is also known as the king of all festivals. Last year the festival had been celebrated on a low note since people were terrified because of the spread of swine flu. However this year, this festival is being celebrated with the same vigour and spirits. Ganesh pandals from all over Mumbai installed the ganesh idols days before its arrival fearing a downpour of rain. Artists have come up with numerous designs and ideas to showcase the uniqueness of their pandals. Moving miniatures, talking statues, historical monuments are all being set up to provide a grand look to the idols. Shops in the city were overcrowded with people buying stuff for the festival. People are also opting for eco friendly idols keeping in concern the environmental issues. The security of the city has also been beefed up keeping in mind the rush at the festival. The BMC is also all set in order to maintain the cleanliness in the city. The festival undoubtedly has spread a wave of splendor and vibrant happiness among the Mumbaikars.In Uttar Pradesh, Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated today with traditional fervour and religious devotion. Muslims dressed in their best, have started thronging at different Eidgah, shrines and mosques to offer special Eid prayers throughout the state marking the end of the holy month of ramzan. Eid prayers will be offered at different times at every Mosque and Eidgah. Renowned and historical mosques have been decorated nicely and special arrangements have been done for Namaj. AIR Lucknow correspondent reports showers which is taking place in different districts have not dampen spirits with large crowds seen at most Eid congregations. In most of the districts Eidgah and famous mosques are well decorated and members from other communities and political and social activists are also thronged there to great Muslim brothers. Muslims have decorated their houses neatly for the occasion. Elaborate security arrangements are in place across the state to ensure peaceful celebration of festival. Extra precautions have been taken in communally sensitive areas and localities. Large number of police personnel, PAC and Central Para Military forces are already deployed in view of High Court verdict on disputed place in Ayodhya. In several cities including Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Meerut, Agra, Bareilly and Moradabad traffic department has made diversions on different routes in order to streamline the vehicular movement on the occasion of Eid. In Punjab, the celebrations of Eid are also going on. Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has extended his warm greetings to all the Punjabis especially the Muslim brethren on Eid-ul-Fitr. AIR correspondent Rajesh Bali reports from Jalandhar that Eid-Ul-Fitr is the day to celebrate. In Punjab, after last evening’s shopping of clothes and sweets to celebrate the festival, the muslim brethren here are visiting Mosques to offer special prayers to Allah for giving them strength to observe Ramzan. As people from other religions are also wishing Id to their Muslim brethren by hugging each other, it’s a gala time for children who are getting ‘Idi’ from their elders. After offering prayers, it’s time to have different delicious delicacies especially sweet ‘Sewiyan’ but only after making sure that the needy around you have also got their share. In Andhra Pradesh, Ramzaan and Ganesh chathurthi are being celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm today. While Ramzan embodies the message of peace, sacrifice, happiness, discipline and brotherhood, Ganesh chathurthi symbolises elimination of all obstacles. The muslims are making a beeline to mosques and idgahs to offer special prayers, while ganesh idols of different sizes and hues are being installed in the special pandals that were set up across the state. The mosques and temples are decked up across the state and festive atmosphere permeates everywhere.AIR correspondent Suprasanthi Devi reports from Hyderabad that It is festivities galore in Andhra Pradesh as both Ramzan, the major festival for muslims and Ganesh chathurthi, an important festival for Hindus are being celebrated today. Festive atmosphere has enveloped the entire state to mark the coincidence of two festivals being celebrated on the same day which also symbolises communal harmony. The muslims, after ending the month-long fasting are turning up in large number at mosques and idgahs to offer special prayers. Similarly, the hindus are worshipping Lord Ganesha at their residences and also pandals that sprung up everywhere . In Hyderabad, about 40,000 ganesh idols are installed in residential localities, markets and other community centres. Meanwhile, the police department has put in place additional security at religious places to ensure that no untoward incident took place. Chief Minister Rosaiah, Governor ESL Narasimhan and opposition leader Chandra Babu Naidu greeted the people on the occasion. After end of holy month of Ramzan, the Id-ul-Fitr is being celebrated today with great enthusiasm and religious fervor. In Jammu and Kashmir, the arrangements for the Id prayer have been finalised. Meanwhile, two days of normalcy in connection with Id celebrations in Kashmir valley has brought back the hustle and bustle to the street. Yesterday the people were seen busy in shopping for essential items for Id throughout the day. All the markets were jam-packet with people. The State Governor N.N. Vohra and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have greeted the people of Jammu and Kashmir on this auspicious occasion. They expressed the hope that the Id will open a new chapter of progress and all round development in the State in peaceful atmosphere.