Srinagar: Thousands of members of the Shia community, who were joined by the Sunni community too, in Kashmir took out a Muharram procession on Wednesday here to mark the eighth day of mourning amidst tight security arrangements, officials said.
The procession was taken out in a peaceful manner as authorities had made adequate security and other arrangements.
However, commuters faced difficulties due to restrictions on the movement of traffic in some parts of the city.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the administration allowed the Muharram procession to be taken out on the traditional route through the heart of the city here.
The procession began from Guru Bazar locality in the city early in the day and passed through the designated route via Jehangir Chowk and Maulana Azad Road. It culminated at Dalgate.
Thousands of mourners assembled at Guru Bazar early Wednesday as the authorities had granted a limited time window for the procession so that normal life does not get affected.
The traffic department had issued an advisory to residents of the city on the routes to be followed during the Muharram procession, the officials said.
At several places, volunteers were seen offering water to the processionists, while water sprinklers were also used at some places to provide relief from the heat.
Senior officers of the police and civil administration joined the procession at Lal Chowk as a gesture of unity and service.
Special Director General of Police, Coordination, SJM Gillani, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, V K Birdi, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg and other senior officers from the police and the CRPF also served water and juices to the mourners.
Speaking to reporters, the IGP Kashmir said elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure that the mourners do not face any problems.
“Elaborate arrangements have been made. The Jammu and Kashmir Police has also made arrangements, including traffic-related, for the mourners coming from different parts of the city and adjoining areas,” Birdi said.
He said the police made the arrangements after consultations with the organisers to ensure smooth conduct of all the processions in imambaras etc in the valley.
Responding to a question about the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra, the IGP Kashmir said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for the pilgrimage, which starts July 3.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir expressed gratitude to the people for cooperating with the administration. “Our colleagues, stakeholders and teams from various departments are in place along the routes as per the directions of the LG and the CM. Our endeavour is to have peaceful observance of Muharram,” he said.
Garg appealed to the community members to respect the permission and advisories granted by the district administration. “Our constant monitoring and quick reaction teams are deployed along the procession routes,” he added.
On the Amaranth Yatra, the divisional commissioner said arrangements for the pilgrimage have been augmented this year as the administration expects an increase in the number of pilgrims.
“Yatra is a routine event, and we make arrangements every year. This year too we have made arrangements, have augmented them because we hope the number of devotees this year will be more compared to the previous years,” he said. (With PTI Inputs)
