Largest gathering recorded at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar; devotees pray for peace and wellbeing
Aqzar Raheel
Srinagar: Juma’atul Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan, was observed across Kashmir on Friday with thousands of devotees gathering at mosques and shrines to offer congregational prayers.
The largest gathering was recorded at the revered Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, where nearly 80,000 worshippers offered prayers.
Former chief minister Farooq Abdullah was also among the devotees who participated in the congregational prayers at the shrine.
Congregational prayers were also held in mosques and shrines in several districts across the Valley, including Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian and Bandipora.
Devotees said they prayed for peace and prosperity in the region. “Juma’atul Vida holds special significance for Muslims. We prayed for peace and the wellbeing of all,” a devotee said.
Juma’atul Vida marks the last Friday of Ramzan and holds special religious significance as Muslims gather in large numbers in mosques during the final days of the fasting month. Earlier, the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Nasir-ul-Islam had announced that Juma’atul Vida would be observed on March 13 after consultations with religious scholars. Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir Government declared a public holiday on Friday to mark the occasion. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, all government offices and educational institutions across the Union Territory remained closed. Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on March 20 or March 21 depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.
