Srinagar: Taking yet another bold step in respecting peoples’ sentiments and agreeing to their demands, the LG administration Friday announced that the Ashoora (10th Muharram) procession will be allowed through the traditional route from Bota Kadal, Lal Bazar to Imambara in Zadibal while the traffic department issued an advisory for the smooth flow of traffic. Ashoora, the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) will be observed across J&K with religious zeal on Saturday.
“Ashoora procession will be allowed through traditional routes of the city tomorrow (10th Muharram). Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth passage of mourners who will participate in the Ashoora procession,” the officials said.
This is the second major decision taken by the UT administration after allowing the 8th Muharram procession first time after 34 years in Srinagar through traditional routes. The 8th Muharram procession was allowed from Guru Bazar to MA Road to Dalage. Shia leaders and the general public expressed gratitude to LG Manoj Sinha for the historic decision.
“Additional security arrangements will remain in place for Ashoora given the huge gatherings,” said the officials.
Meanwhile, to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, the traffic department issued an advisory for Ashoora. According to the advisory, the Youm-e-Ashoora will be observed on 10th Muharram (29th July-2023). “The main Zuljinah procession shall be taken out from Bota Kadal up to Imambara Zadibal, which affects traffic movement in Zadibal and adjacent areas,” it reads, adding that “In order to have smooth movement of traffic and for convenience of general public/motorists, the following traffic advisory is issued: Traffic moving towards Zadibal will be diverted at Firdous Cinema, Mill Stop, Lal Bazar, Bota Kadal & Chattipadshahi.”
It further states that “Motorists intending to go towards Soura from Lal Chowk or vice versa shall adopt Dr. Ali Jan Road and Motorists moving towards Lal Chowk from Zakoora or vice versa shall adopt Foreshore Road.”
“The vehicles coming from Gojwara towards Zadibal will be diverted at Firdous Cinema towards Dr. Ali Jan road via Sazgaripora and the vehicles coming towards Badamwari from Lal Chowk via Rainawari will be diverted at Chatipadshahi towards Kathidarwaza,” the advisory further reads adding that “motorists from the Lal Bazar area will use the Kanitar-Hazratbal-Foreshore road. The General Public is requested to kindly avoid unnecessary movement towards the areas where Youm-e-Ashoora processions are being taken out to avoid any inconvenience,” the advisory said.
Meanwhile, the traditional 9th Muharram procession was taken out in Shikaras in the interiors of Dal Lake here on Friday.
Hundreds of mourners today assembled in the Dal adjacent to Rainawari and moved in Shikaras from one mohalla to another in Shikaras.
Praising Imam Hussain (AS) and reciting nouhas, they reached Hasanabad Imam Bargarh Srinagar where this unique Shikara rally ended.
Every year people from Shia community carry out this mourning on a water procession and the practice has been going on since the Dogra rule.
