By Yusuf Sarki Muhammad BBC, Kaduna

But the festivities will be subdued in Kaduna, after more than 200 people were killed in religious riots just two weeks ago.

For a month, Muslims have abstained from food, drinks and sex, from sunrise till sunset.

And now they are celebrating and praising their creator for giving them the chance to celebrate yet another festival of Eid el-Fitr.

Muslim families are expected to give food to the less privileged of society, to visit friends and relations and to exchange gifts.

Those who can afford it are dressed in new clothes.

In virtually every emirate, emirs and their courtiers ride on beautifully dressed horses.

Sounds of drums are commonplace during this occasion.

Curfew

However, this year's festivities are coming hard on the heels of the violence that rocked Kaduna two weeks ago.

And with a curfew firmly restricting hours of movement, the fun associated with this period will be greatly reduced.

Churches and mosques were targeted in relgious violence

Peace has been restored to the city, but residents are still counting their losses.

More than 200 people were killed during the clashes.

Several thousand others were either wounded or have been displaced from their homes.

As Kaduna residents celebrate, dining and giving out food in charity, the condition of those wounded and the displaced remains disturbing.

The state government has already directed that the wounded should be treated at its expense.

In the meantime, donations have been pouring in from several quarters to help the displaced.

Two days ago, foodstuff, blankets and household utensils, donated by the federal government were distributed to about 14,000 displaced people in one area alone.

With the government here still reluctant to give facts and figures on the number of the dead, wounded and the displaced, the distribution of this donation to one camp alone shows the degree of havoc in Kaduna.

But even as the residents of Kaduna continue to count their losses, the festivities are still going on, even if to a lesser extent.