Biggest congregation held at Dargah Hazratbal; prayers not allowed at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid
Srinagar: Thousand of devotees from across Kashmir thronged the Dargah Hazratbal shrine here to offer congregational prayers on Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan, even as the central Jama Masjid in the old city was closed on the occasion.
The largest gathering was seen at Dargah Hazratbal shrine which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) along the banks of Dal Lake, following the closure of the central Jama Masjid in the old city’s Nowhatta area.
Thousands of fasting Muslims flocked to other mosques and shrines across the valley to take part in the congregational Jumat-ul-Vida prayers.
Devotees, including a large number of women and children from length and breadth of the valley offered congregational prayers at Hazratbal shrine.
Similar congregations were held in several other mosques and shrines in the valley including Jenab Sahab Soura, Asar Sharif Shahr-e-Kalashpora, Syed Yaqoob Sahab-Sonwar, Dastgeer Sahib’s shrines Khanyar and Sarai Payeen, Asar Sharif Lal Bazar and Makhama, Beerwah.
Devotees could be seen offering congregational prayers even on the streets adjacent to several mosques and shrines in Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir.
At Hazratbal, authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the devotees while a route plan devised for the day by the Traffic department also helped in smooth movement of traffic on all routes leading to the Hazratbal shrine.
Roads and streets leading to the shrine were decorated with buntings and markets in Hazratbal wore a festive look with vendors doing brisk business.
Hundreds of private and SRTC vehicles ferried the devotees. Besides transport, arrangements for power, drinking water, medical aid camps and sanitation were also made for the convenience of devotees.
Jumat-ul-vida holds significant importance for Muslims, marked by special prayers and supplications as Ramzan draws to a close. Offering prayers in big congregations on this last Friday of Ramzan carries immense spiritual rewards.
Meanwhile, the last Friday prayers of this Ramzan were not allowed to be held at the Jama Masjid here by authorities and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest.
“On the very significant religious occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was put under house arrest and not allowed to go to Jama Masjid and Jama Masjid was also locked for by the authorities,” Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said in a statement here.
Former Chief Minister and PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti condemned the closure of Jama Masjid saying on one hand the BJP government is beating drums that ‘all is well in Kashmir,” and on the other hand are closing down the major masjid which, besides being a centre of religion and spirituality as also integral to Kashmir’s culture and heritage.
“The action taken on August 5, 2019, has not stopped. It is still going on. Kashmir has been converted into an open-air prison,” she added.
“Several political leaders from Kashmir offered congregational prayers of Jumat-ul-Vida at Dargah Hazratbal today. Reports said that National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son and vice president of party, Omar Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti and Apni Party President, Syed Altaf Bukhari offered Friday prayers at Dargah”
