Thousands attend 'mashaal' festival at Aishmuqam shrine

A large number of devotees, including youngsters, visited Aishmuqam shrine, located in a hillock of South Kashmir to attend the Zool (illumination).

As part of the festival, devotees carry “mashaals” (fire torches) as they line up the shrine of Sufi Saint Hazrat Zain-u-Din Wali at Aishmuqam in Anantnag district.

According to legend, during the rule of Ashushah Badshah, a genie (ghost) used to terrify locals in Aishmuqam, who was killed by a Gujjar boy. Later, locals lit the torches and there were celebrations all around. Even after centuries, the villagers still celebrate the victory of good over evil. Such is the festival revered for them, locals don’t eat or sell meat for three days as they prepare for the festival.

Sufi Saint Zain-u-Din Wali, who is believed to have come to Aishmuqam in the 15th century, also a follower of the great Kashmiri mystic Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, kept the tradition of lighting torches alive. This festival also marks the end of winter and beginning of the new season.