Low-key Eid-e-Milad in Valley, Hazratbal stays out of bounds

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 10

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi celebrations remained a low-key affair in Kashmir valley on Sunday with roads in the vicinity of the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake remaining barricaded.

Though religious functions related to Eid-e-Milad are held at several other mosques and shrines, Hazratbal for years has remained the centre of Milad celebrations in the Valley. The shrine would generally attract devotees from all across Kashmir.

Devotees were found complaining that they had for the first time witnessed restrictions on Eid-e-Milad outside the Hazratbal shrine, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad.

“I have been going to Hazratbal right from my childhood but I never witnessed restrictions during the Eid-e-Milad congregation there. Even when the situation was not good in the past, Hazratbal would still attract devotees from all over Kashmir,” said Abdul Ahad, an elderly devotee of Srinagar.

However, ‘Shab-Khwani’ (nightlong prayers) were held till Sunday morning at the Hazratbal shrine where a handful of devotees remained engrossed in prayers and supplications. Devotees were also inconvenienced due to the collapse of a canopy at the Hazratbal shrine in the wake of Thursday’s snowfall. Only those devotees living in houses close to the Hazratbal shrine could make it to the premises.

An official said Section 144 had been imposed from Saturday only in view of the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute and restrictions had been placed around the shrine to maintain law and order.

The most unique feature of Milad celebrations in Kashmir is the display of the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad at the Hazratbal shrine after congregational prayers. Eid-e-Milad, the birth anniversary of the Prophet, is celebrated on the 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal of the Islamic calendar. Religious gatherings are held at mosques and shrines from the first day of Rabi-ul-Awwal month only. The holy relic of Prophet Muhammad is also displayed at the Hazratbal shrine on the first Friday that follows Rabi-ul-Awwal. 

NC condemns restrictions

The National Conference (NC) on Sunday condemned the Jammu and Kashmir administration for disallowing religious gatherings at the holy Hazratbal shrine on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, saying such a measure tantamounted to violation of people’s religious freedom.

The authorities on Sunday sealed all roads leading to the shrine here which houses the holy relic of the Prophet as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of the Supreme Court ruling in the Ayodhya case and Eid-Milad-un-Nabi.

“The measure corresponds to scuttling of people’s religious freedom. The most venerated shrines and mosques of the Valley which used to be abuzz with all sorts of religious activity are unfortunately desolate now,” the party said in a statement here.