Restrictions around Hazratbal shrine to prevent big congregation on Eid Milad eve

SRINAGAR: Wary of protests, the J&K administration on Saturday sealed all entry and exit points leading to the Hazratbal shrine to prevent people from converting a religious congregation into “azadi groundswell”.

File photo

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, November 9

Wary of protests, the J&K administration on Saturday sealed all entry and exit points leading to the Hazratbal shrine to prevent people from converting a religious congregation into “azadi groundswell”.

Though the government claimed that the restrictions were imposed keeping in view the Ayodhya verdict, sources said the government did not want to take any chances on the eve of Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations starting Saturday night.

A senior government official said the authorities would allow only people from the Hazratbal area to offer congregational prayers at the shrine, while no one would be allowed from outside to offer prayers. Around 50,000 people used to usually assemble at the shrine to offer prayers.

“We won’t allow any big congregation,” he said. “Only people living around the shrine will be allowed to offer prayers at the shrine.”

The government has been in a fix for a long time on whether to allow the Milad prayers to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad on Sunday. The anniversary is celebrated on the 12th day of the third month of Islamic calendar.

Because of the high emotional attachment with the shrine that houses the relic of Prophet Mohammad, the shrine has been attracting devotees from across the Valley, who offer special prayers on Eid Milad. The Milad celebrations are a week-long activity during which people have a glimpse of the holy relic.

Post abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, the J&K government has not allowed any major congregations prayers, which also included Eid prayers. The authorities fear that such gatherings may turn into “azadi” protests.

A senior official, however, said the restrictions were imposed in the wake of the Ayodhya verdict.

“Restrictions in many parts of the city were made on Saturday in wake of the Ayodhya verdict,” District Magistrate, Srinagar, Shahid Chaudhary said.

Residents said if big Milad congregation was not allowed, it would be for the first time in the past many decades that such prayers would not happen.