SRINAGAR: As the clock approaches 4 pm, hundreds of black-clad mourners begin a solemn journey into the interiors of Dal Lake, making their way towards one of Kashmir’s most unique Muharram processions.
Far from the bustling boulevard and the lake’s tourist hotspots, the centuries-old tradition unfolds in Kand Mohalla, where devotees gather every year on the 9th of Muharram to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala.
Mourners first travel more than a kilometre from the main road into the interior parts of Dal Lake before beginning a walk through a maze of narrow pathways, floating settlements and wooden bridges.
After reaching the lakeside channels, groups of devotees board boats carrying Muharram flags and sail through the lake’s hidden waterways before converging at the main gathering point.
For residents of Dal Lake, the journey itself is an inseparable part of the ritual.
“We do not just attend the procession; we walk our history to reach it,” Ghulam Hussain, a 68-year-old resident said.
“Our forefathers followed these same routes decades ago. Every Ashura, we retrace their footsteps in remembrance of Imam Hussain (AS),” he said.
Far from the tourist image of Dal Lake, the annual procession transforms its quiet interiors into a sea of mourning. Black flags flutter above narrow wooden bridges as mourners move through floating hamlets towards the venue. Moments later, boats carrying black-clad devotees and Muharram flags emerge on the waterways, their reflections shimmering on the calm waters of the lake.
The boat rally remains one of the most striking features of the procession. As flag-bearing boats glide through narrow channels surrounded by reeds and floating settlements, mourners recite elegies in remembrance of Imam Hussain (AS), creating a rare spectacle of faith and devotion in the heart of Dal Lake.
With the Zabarwan hills in the background, devotees move across both water and wooden bridges, creating a scene where faith and landscape merge. The sight of Muharram flags flying over boats and wooden bridges makes this tradition unique in Kashmir.
Entire families, including children and elderly mourners, participate in the centuries-old observance, which has survived political upheaval, conflict and changing social realities over generations.
Residents said the procession is not only a religious observance but also a reflection of the deep relationship between the people and the lake they call home.
“Dal Lake is not just the venue for this procession; it is part of our tradition,” said Ali Mohammad, a community elder.
“We cross waterways, travel in boats and walk over wooden bridges before reaching the gathering point. This is what makes our Muharram procession unique,” he said. (KNO)
