Srinagar: A wave of devotion swept through Shehr-e-Khaas on Thursday afternoon as thousands of devotees gathered at Hazrat Naqshband Sahib (RA) Shrine in Nowhatta to offer the annual ‘Khoja Digar’ prayer.
From the narrow lanes to the main chowk, men, women, and children from across the valley turned Downtown into a sea of faith, spreading prayer mats and waiting patiently to participate in the centuries-old ritual.
Mothers held their children’s hands as the crowd overflowed, while media personnel climbed vehicles and rooftops to capture the scale of the congregation.
“This year’s gathering carried added significance as Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq delivered a sermon at the shrine,” eyewitnesses present on the occasion said.
For devotees, the prayer carried deep personal meaning. “For me, this place is so peaceful that my heart relaxes when I offer prayer here, especially during Khoja Digar,” said Ghulam Ahmad, a Srinagar resident who has been visiting the shrine for years.
Elderly resident Gulzar Ahmad from Budgam shared, “My mother brought me here as a child, and now I bring my grandchildren. This prayer has seen us through life’s toughest moments. Today, I prayed for the health of my family and peace in our valley.”
Residents also opened their homes for visitors, serving tea and refreshments. “On the occasion of Khoja Digar, we prepare food and tea for devotees to express our love for the shrine. Our doors are open for everyone,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, a Nowhatta resident.
Meanwhile, the administration had ensured smooth arrangements for the gathering.
Mirwaiz also offered Fatiha at “Mazar-e-Shuhadaa” Naqshband Sahib for the martyrs of 13 July 1931, paying homage to their sacrifices, affirming that their legacy continues to inspire the people of Jammu 7 Kashmir.
The shrine holds deep historical importance. After Khawja Khawand Mahmood’s death in 1640 in Lahore, his son Khawaja Moin-Ud-Din Naqshbandi came to Kashmir to manage the shrine. He died in 1674 and was buried here. It is also believed that the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) hair was first kept at this shrine in 1699.
As the muezzin’s call echoed across Nowhatta, the air was filled with faith and remembrance, turning this year’s Khoja Digar into a powerful blend of spirituality, tradition, and renewed resolve.
