Eidgah and Eid Prayers

I have to admit my poor knowledge of religious matters and would, therefore, ask the more knowledgeable to shed some light on it.

The Holy Prophet (SAWAW) used to offer Eid prayers in the open at the outskirts of the city – Medina – as it offered more space than the Masjid e Nabvi for all and more people to congregate there for the occasion. This institution came to be known as Eid Gah and was found in every city and town inhabited by the Muslims in a sizeable numbers.  The Eid Gahs remained in vogue for centuries all over the world but are now found only in the larger villages of Indo-Pakistan. Over the eons in big cities Eid prayers started to be held in the largest mosque of the town and in still larger cities at more than one mosque too. In the capital cities it was always the Badshahi Masjid (Lahore), the Jama Masjid (Delhi) where the Moghal Emperors  and later the governors used to offer the Eid prayers.  So far so good.  But can the Eid Prayers be offered in great pomp and show at someone’s private residence, like  Bilwal House, Lahore and Jati Umera a! t Raiwind, which are completely restricted areas and where no outsider can join the residents and their VIP guests for the Eid prayers?  Is this permissible under the spirit of Eid ul Azha and if not, why don’t our paid Muftis and the Islamic Ideological Council raise their voice against such a practice of dividing the Ummah in the Haves and Have Nots, the Rulers and the Ordinary  so ostentatiously ?     

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)