Shia mourners participate in Muharram procession in Srinagar

Thousands of Shia mourners on Friday took out a Muharram procession in Srinagar to mark the eight day of mourning. This is the third consecutive year that permission has been granted for the procession after it was banned in Srinagar city following eruption of militancy in 1990.

Amid tight security arrangements, the procession was taken out peacefully in Srinagar in the morning, according to officials.

The procession, which began from Guru Bazar in Srinagar and passed through Maulana Azad Road, culminated at the Dalgate area. Senior police and civil officials also joined it at Lal Chowk as a symbolic gesture of unity and service.

Among those who were seen serving water to the mourners included Special Director General of Police, Coordination, SJM Gillani, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri and Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, VK Birdi.

Talking to mediapersons, Bidhuri said, “The district administration and police have made special security arrangements for the procession.”

He said the decision on the 10th Muharram procession will be taken at an appropriate time. “We are also in contact with everyone regarding that,” he said.

While small processions are regularly allowed in Kashmir, two major processions were banned when militancy broke out in 1990. In 2023, after a gap of over three decades, the government had granted permission for the first time for the procession on the eighth Muharram.