Srinagar: Shab-e-Baraat (night of salvation) was observed with religious fervour across the Kashmir valley, even as no congregation was allowed at the historic Jamia Masjid.
Shab-e-Baraat is observed by the Muslims on the intervening night of the 14th and 15th days of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
Officials said the biggest congregation was held at the Hazratbal shrine which houses the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad.
Shab Khwani” (night long prayers) was held at the revered shrine throughout the night. The devotees were seen offering supplementary prayers throughout the night besides reciting the holy Quran and offering supplications.
Officials said nightlong prayers were also held at several other mosques and shrines across the valley.
However, no prayers were allowed at the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city.
The Anjuman Auqaf, the managing body of Jamia Masjid, last evening said police informed them that the night prayers for Shab-e-Baraat would not be allowed and the mosque was closed.
Anjuman said that it is for the sixth consecutive year in a row that Shab-e-Baraat congregation was disallowed at the Jamia mosque in Srinagar. The police had also put Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had called the restrictions “very unfortunate” and said they indicate a “lack of confidence in law and order machinery.”
“It is very unfortunate that the security establishment has taken the decision to seal the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar on one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar – #shabebaraat. This decision betrays a lack in confidence in the people & a lack of confidence in the law & order machinery that calm won’t prevail without extreme measures. The people of Srinagar deserved better,” Abdullah said in a post on X.
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President Tariq Karra on Friday criticized the government’s move, calling it a sign of insecurity despite repeated claims of normalcy.
” One fails to understand as to what forced the authorities to lock down Jamia , if they(authorities) are not confident then why there are claims that everything is going normal. Government should think seriously about such measures, which certainly create an atmosphere of discord leading to the disillusionment amongst the public,”Karra said in a statement.
He said that the government should revisit its policy of banning the public from performing their religious obligations, from time to time, as such measures are neither in the public interest nor in the interest of peace initiatives or confidence building measures.
