Shab’e Qadr observed with religious gaiety, fervour across Kashmir

Srinagar: Shab-e-Qadr (Night of Power) was observed with religious fervour across the Valley on Monday night.
Devotees remained engaged in nightlong prayers till Tuesday morning across the shrines and mosques of the Valley. As per past practice, the largest gathering was held at the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake.
After four years, Congregational night prayers were allowed by authorities at historic Jamia Masjid Nowhatta. A huge gathering was witnessed at the mosque for the Taraweeh prayers. However, no night long sermon was held there.
At other religious places, Besides ‘taraweeh’ prayers, devotees remained engrossed in supplications and recitals of the holy Quran. Religious heads also threw light on the significance of the holy night. All the major shrines of the Valley were well-illuminated and wore a festive look on Monday night in view of the large attendance of devotees.
Shab-e-Qadr is considered to be the holiest night of the fasting month of Ramazan. Shab-e-Qadr is also called Laylat-ul-Qadr and according to Muslim traditions, it usually falls on the 27th night of Ramazan. However, scholars say that it can also fall on any odd night of the last 10 days of the fasting month.
Keeping in view the sanctity of the night, many Muslims engage in nightlong prayers during all odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramazan. However, the night is at large observed on the 27th night of Ramazan. The day after Shab-e-Qadr, people usually start making preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr that falls after the fasting month. Shopping for the festive occasion also peaks after Shab-e-Qadr.