Ornamental arches set up in Male' by the city council to celebrate Eid were lit up on Monday night.
The city council put up arches with "Eid Mubarak" and other designs as well as string lights for decoration on Majeedhee Magu, Sosun Magu and other main roads, including roads in Vilimale'.
The lights were turned on at a ceremony held by the city council at the Republic Square after Maghrib prayers. Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, council members and members of the public took part in the ceremony.
After turning on the lights, Muizzu said he believed occasions such as Eid that are celebrated by Muslims must be marked officially as the Maldives is a 100 percent Muslim country and Male' is the capital island.
Muizzu also noted that the city council has planned sacrificial goat slaughtering in Male' to celebrate Eid. The meat will be distributed to the public, he said.
The city council said previously that a total of 2224 lights have been strung on 22 frames in Male' and Vilimale'.
Communal Eid prayers with mass congregations are also due to take place on Wednesday morning. The areas designated for the mass congregations are Maafannu stadium, Islamic center, Salman mosque, synthetic track in Hulhumale' phase one, cricket stadium in Hulhumale' phase two and football stadium in Vilimale'.
On Tuesday, the police announced the closure of roads in the surrounding areas when the prayer takes place.
Roads leading to the Maafannu stadium, Islamic center and Salman mosque in Male' will be closed before the Eid prayers, the police said.
The marble area surrounding Salman mosque was designated for the Eid prayer. A parking zone will be set up from the carnival area to the artificial beach.
Roads surrounding the Maafannu stadium will also be closed with parking on the Boduthakurufaanu Magu outer road.
While roads around the Islamic center will also be closed, vehicles can be parked on Boduthakurufaanu Magu near the Izzuddin jetty and near the art gallery.
The Islamic ministry said an announcement will be made in advance if the mass congregations cannot be held due to bad weather.
The ministry urged prayer-goers to perform the ablution at home and to bring their own prayer mats and water bottles as well as a small non-plastic bag to put slippers.
