SRINAGAR: Barring the historic Jamia Masjid, the Eid prayers were offered everywhere in huge numbers across Kashmir. In certain areas, the prayer congregations were held in the sprawling local Eidgah’s.
In Srinagar, authorities had denied permission to have Eid prayers in the Eidgah. They, however, also prevented the prayers in the Jamia Masjid Srinagar. Reports said its gates were closed early morning by the security grid and deployments were made. The mosque management had announced that prayers in the grand mosque will take place at 9 am. However, reports appearing in the media said the authorities had suggested the Jamia management to offer prayers at 6:30 am, which they refused.
A huge number of people offered prayers in the Hazratbal shrine, the Aali Majid at Eidgah and other major shrines and mosques across Kashmir. In certain areas, the Eid prayers were offered as early as 6 am. This is being done to help people manage their time better because the distribution of sacrificial meat requires a lot of time in the transport-deficit city.
Reports from the Kashmir periphery said the mosques and Eidgah’s remained busy up to 10:30 am, when the prayers were held. In certain areas, the congregations saw the participation of tens of thousands of the faithful.
There was no report of any untoward incident across Kashmir, so far.
Meanwhile, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha in a message said that the festival is an occasion to reaffirm our faith in the unity of humanity and to be charitable towards the poor and disadvantaged. “May this auspicious festival of Eid-ul-Zuha strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and bring peace, happiness and joy for everyone,” he prayed.
After the prayer Dr Farooq Abdullah, who offered his prayers at Hazratbal, took a group of his workers to his father’s grave located nearby for Fateh.
