Srinagar: Thousands of devotees converged at Hazratbal shrine here on Friday to attend the special congregational prayers on the eve of Jumma-tul-Vida.
Reports said said that all the shrines and Masjids across Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a huge participation of muslim faithfuls on the eve of Jumma-tul-Vida The biggest congregation was witnessed at Hazratbal shrines where one lakh Muslims participated in the Friday prayers and took a glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet (SAW) which when displayed witnessed emotional scenes all around.
However, the historic Jamia Masjid where usually huge rush of people is being witnessed on special occasions, remained closed for the prayers. Witnesses said that all the four gates of the Jamia Masjid remained locked.
Large congregations were also witnessed in others Masjids and shrines including Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahlehadith, Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif, Janab Sahib Soura Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib, Khanqah-e-Mualla and different Imambaras.
The biggest congregational prayers were also witnessed at several other shrines in different districts, including Chararisharief in Budgam, Khiram Sirhama & Hazratbal Kabamarg in Anantnag district, Shrines of Hazrat Sultan-ul-Arifeen and Sheikh Hamzah Makhdoom Sahib (RA) located in Ahm-e-Sharief and Gundpora-Rampora, respectively, in Bandipora district and other Masjids as well. During the special prayers, the religious clerics threw light on the teachings of Islam.
Special arrangements were put in place including sanitation, lightening, traffic management, transport and relevant things for the devotees, officials said. “We had also established a control room at Dargah Hazratbal where thousands of devotees are expected to gather for Friday congregational prayers and to have a glimpse of the holy relic,” they said.
The authorities had also pressed buses into service to ferry devotees to and from Hazratbal Dargah. Meanwhile, traffic police Srinagar City had also issued a route plan for both private and public transport on this day to ensure the smooth passage of devotees.
