For second year in row, admn allows Muharram procession in Srinagar

Srinagar, July 14

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday granted permission to take out a Muharram procession in Srinagar. This is the second consecutive year that permission has been granted for the procession after it was banned in Srinagar city following eruption of militancy in 1990.

According to an order issued by the Srinagar district magistrate, permission has been granted to take out a Muharram procession on the eighth of Muharram through the City Centre—from Guru Bazar to Dalgate, via Budshah Kadal and Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar city.

While small processions are regularly allowed in Kashmir, two major processions were banned when militancy broke out in 1990. Last year, after the gap of over three decades, the government granted permission for the first time for the procession on eighth Muharram.

“Permission is granted…for taking out Muharram procession on 8th Muharram…However, they shall start from Guru Bazaar at 6 am and the tail of the procession shall cross Jehangir Chowk at 6.30 am…,” said the order. “The time window has been finalised in the larger public interest as the procession route encompasses massive business/commercial establishment, movement of ambulances, students, office staff, general passengers, etc.,” said the official statement.

It however, has set some conditions. The organisers shall ensure that the procession is culminated within the prescribed timeframe set by the administration,” the order said. It also said the participants “shall not indulge in any anti-national/anti-establishments speeches/ sloganeering or propaganda and no activity shall in any way affect the communal sectarian harmony, religious, ethnic cultural and religious sentiments of the people.”

It also said they shall not cause “any defacement or damage to the government and public property,” and they shall cooperate with local police and other security agencies.

Meanwhile, Satish Mahaldar, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit and chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peace Forum, has demanded that ban on historic Muharram procession from Abi Guzar, Lal Chowk, to Ali Park Zadibal, Srinagar, which is still in place, be lifted.

“In last year’s Muharram meeting, it was promised by the Srinagar district administration that in 2024 ban on historic Muthida Jaloos-e-Ashura procession will be lifted. Therefore, your early intervention is required so that the ban is lifted on similar lines,” he said in a letter to the J&K administration.