Devotees offer namaaz at Gandhi Maidan on Friday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Mohammad Kaif Ali loves kaleji, chicken biryani and firni and his Id became extra special because his mother cooked these on Friday.

“Ammi made my favourite dishes for lunch,” said the ecstatic seven-year-old, who lives at Langar Toli.

His mother Rashida Ali said: “Id is the only festival when we enjoy a lot and I love cooking different kinds of food. As my son loves kaleji (mutton liver), biryani and firni, I cooked these for him.”

The homemaker got busy with the culinary preparations right after the morning namaaz. “There was a lot to prepare as we have a lot of guests,” she said.

For her son, having delicacies only for lunch was not good enough. He wanted more of it for dinner.

Mohammad said: “I have asked Ammi to keep some of the good food for dinner as well.”

On Friday morning, the faithful in Patna headed for Gandhi Maidan and mosques for namaaz. After prayers, it was time for celebrations. For most, the festivities were synonymous with food.

At Mainpura, Mehtab Alam and family enjoyed sewai. “It is a very special dish for Id. Without sewai, the festival would lose its flavour,” he said, adding that biryani and kebabs were also a part of his family’s menu on Friday.

While most were busy enjoying the delicacies, some took the opportunity of the festival to indulge their shopaholic selves.

Even on Friday morning, Patna Market, Sabzibagh, Khetan Market and Boring Road were crowded with women doing some last minute shopping. The most popular item was Madhubala suits for girls.

Tanwir Alam, a shopkeeper at Khetan Market, had kept his shop open even on Id because he knew that customers would come anyway.

He said: “The most popular attire this year is the Madhubala suit. It is inspired by the clothes worn by the protagonist of the TV serial, Madhubala.”

The suits are made of georgette with borders of Benarasi saris. They have intricate embroidery and are priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 60,000.

“We have sold around 200 Madhubala suits this year, including quite a few this morning,” said Alam.

Javed, 41, a shopkeeper at Patna Market said he mostly sold Hitler Didi suits — inspired by another eponymous TV show.

“Patiala salwar and short kameez, which the lead actress of Hitler Didi wears, have sold like hot cakes from my shop. I have sold 56 Hitler Didi suits so far,” he said.

Those buying the beautiful clothes were happier than the sellers. Boring Road resident Nafisa Khan said: “Wearing designer dresses on Id is a great joy for us. This is the only occasion when my parents give me money to buy clothes. This year, I bought Madhubala suits.”

If girls were eager to look good, why should boys be left behind? They, too, did their best to look dapper this Id.

“Traditional Pathan suits and kurtas are very popular this year,” said Mohammad Usman, a shopkeeper at Sabzibagh. These are priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 7,000.

Political leaders took the opportunity to reach out to the people on the festive occasion.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar visited Gandhi Maidan, Khankah-e-Muzibia and Emarat-e-Sharia at Phulwarisharif. “Let the festival usher in peace and harmony,” he said.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad also greeted people on the occasion and visited Khanka Masjid near Mangal Talab in Patna City. Accompanied by party spokesperson Ram Kripal Yadav, he enjoyed delicious sewai.