SRINAGAR: Worshippers across Kashmir thronged mosques and shrines to observe Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, with the largest gathering witnessed at Dargah Hazratbal, where thousands of devotees offered prayers.
Faithful from different parts of the Valley gathered at the historic Hazratbal shrine, where men, women, and children prayed for peace and prosperity.
Major mosques and shrines saw significant gatherings as people marked the sacred day with devotion.
Meanwhile, the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar remained closed, preventing devotees from offering congregational prayers. The closure drew condemnation from religious and political leaders, who termed it an infringement on religious freedom.
Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid strongly condemned and expressed deep regret over the unjustified restrictions imposed by the state administration for the sixth consecutive year on holding the most significant religious gatherings of Muslims—Shab-e-Qadr and Jumat-ul-Vida—at the Jama Masjid Srinagar.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been under house detention since yesterday, said on X: “After Shab-e-Qadr, Jama Masjid Srinagar continues to remain closed to people, and I am under house detention even today on Jumat-ul-Vida, when lakhs eagerly await the whole year to offer congregational prayers on this blessed Friday for great reward and blessing from Allah. I want to ask the authorities: why is this most important centre of Kashmir’s religious identity and affinity repeatedly targeted, and why is the fundamental right to religious practice curbed when tall claims of normalcy are made every day? Those ruling in the name of the people cannot absolve themselves from addressing this gross injustice towards Muslims of the Valley and the repeated closure of #JamaMasjid.”
Worshippers expressed their spiritual aspirations, seeking divine mercy. “This is a day when prayers are accepted. I prayed for the well-being of Kashmir and peace across the world,” said Abdul Wahid, a devotee from Budgam, who was seen crying at the Hazratbal shrine.
An elderly worshipper shared his wish to perform Hajj soon. “My only desire now is to visit Mecca and Madina. May Allah fulfil my wish,” he said.
Authorities had made arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of prayers. Traffic authorities managed vehicular movement, designated parking spaces, and deployed additional buses to ferry devotees.
Furthermore, JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah also offered Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at Dargah Hazratbal, joining thousands of worshippers in seeking divine blessings.
Mohammad Aazan, a devotee from Srinagar, said Jumat-ul-Vida is a day of immense spiritual significance. “We come here to seek forgiveness and pray for a better future for our children,” he said. (KNO)
