new delhi fearing a probable third wave of the novel coronavirus prominent imams of two major mosques in the capital jama masjid and fatehpuri have released video and audio messages urging people to avoid large gatherings during eid aladha prayers on tuesday and follow all the government guidelines while celebratingin an audio message shahi imam of jama masjid syed ahmed bukhari stressed that any big gathering was not permitted by the government to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as a result jama masjid and other big mosques would hold small prayers with limited gathering the shahi imam urged people to pray at their local mosques rather than rush to huge ones he added that the pandemic situation demanded that people act with cautionshahi imam of fatehpuri mosque dr mufti mukarram ahmed released a video message urging people to avoid crowding at mosques and follow governmentordered guidelines while celebrating the festival dr ahmed said celebrations should be similar to how eid ulfitr was celebrated two months ago while taking all necessary precautions where many people prayed at home due to the lockdownmufti mukarram stressed that the virus was still a huge threat and it should not be taken lightly he added that all guidelines issued by the government and health experts needed to be fully adhered to and any crowding at mosques should be strictly avoided