Zuljinah march set off from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal; J&K observes Ashoora with ardour; There was a foolproof security measure in place; enormous gathering indicates a changing Kashmir, according to ADGP Kashmir; had made complex preparations and was grateful for others’ cooperation: Kashmir Division Command.
Srinagar, July 29: On Saturday, the Ashoora, or tenth day of the holy month of Muharram, was observed throughout Jammu and Kashmir with religious fervour in remembrance of the sacrifices made by Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in Karbala. The Shia Muslims participated in processions in Srinagar, Budgam, and other districts, which ended peacefully.
Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) died at the battle of Karbala in Iraq on the 10th of Muharram along with 72 other family members and companions. Their martyrdom is commemorated all over the world by Shia mourners marching in large procession while praising Imam Hussain (AS) and banging their chests.
In order to guarantee that the major march from Bota Kadal Lal Bazar to Zadibal here proceeds smoothly, all of the roads leading there were stopped to vehicle traffic, according to the news source Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Over one lakh people participated in the Muharram march in Srinagar today, a senior official told KNO.
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), political parties, and other members of civil society, together with the police and the civil administration, had set up kiosks throughout the parade starting in the morning to provide refreshments to the grieving all day long at Zadibal.
On the eve of Ashoora, the Zadibal neighbourhood was still overrun by Shia Muslims and mourning.
Most of the Shia mourners were spotted participating in the parade sans shoes on the occasion.
One of the mourners, Zulfikar, who was also visible taking part in the procession, claimed that the mourners are remembering the sacrifices of the Karbala martyrs and that by walking barefoot on the streets, they are recalling the circumstances that the martyrs faced while battling the enemy in the sweltering heat of Karbala.
In order to guarantee that the parade ends peacefully, police and the CRPF were also deployed in regions where the procession will pass through Srinagar and elsewhere.
At Bemina, a sizable Muharram parade was also carried out.
Similar Muharram processions, in which hundreds of mourners participated and paid respects to the Karbala victims, were also held today in the Budgam district, the Pattan and Delina parts of the Baramulla district, Wularhama Pahalgam, Sopore, Halkha, and Chaturgund in South Kashmir.
Additionally, the Sunni Muslims in this area organised Ijtimas for the occasion at neighbourhood Masjids, during which religious leaders spoke and shed light on the Karbala events.
To show their affection and protest the burning of the holy book in Sweden, the Shia mourners from Saidpura neighbourhood in Sopore town also staged a march while carrying copies of the Quran.
Er Fida Hussain, who was in Saidpura for the Muharram parade, denounced the improper deed (the burning of the Quran in Swedan), noting that the Quran promotes fraternity and tolerance.
Similar to this, a lot of mourners said they were carrying the Quran in the parade to convey a message and oppose the burning of the holy book.
According to the news source Kashmir News Observer (KNO), ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar Kumar stated that foolproof security cover is in place for the smooth conduct of the Ashoora, in which Shia mourners are travelling in a Zuljinah procession from the Bota Kadal area to Imambara Zadibal. According to him, “officers were deployed on the ground from midnight to ensure deployment as per the plan,” and “allowing the historic procession after a long gap reflects changing Kashmir.”
For such events, he said that police provided security coverage, but that “ultimate credit goes to the people.” Nothing is possible, according to the ADGP, without the involvement of the people.
On the eve of Youm-e-Ashoora, the day Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) was slain in Karbala, the administration stands with the Shia community, according to deputy commissioner Srinagar Muhammad Aijaz Asad, who spoke at the event. “Today, the need of the hour is to spread the message of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS),” he said. Relevantly, on the occasion of Ashoora, the government permitted the large Ashoora procession from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal. Earlier, on the eighth of Muharram, the government had for the first time in 34 years permitted the march from Guru Bazar to M A Road to Dalgate. Shia leaders and mourning had hailed the government, which is headed by LG Manoj Sinha, for the historic choice.
Div Com appreciates everyone’s cooperation: Divisional Commissioner for Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bhiduri praised the populace for their cooperation and said that the government had taken meticulous preparations to ensure that Ashoora processions across Kashmir were conducted without incident—(KNO)
