Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 1: Eid-e-Milad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was today observed with religious fervour, gaiety and enthusiasm across Kashmir valley during which thousands of devotees attended night-long prayers in major shrines of the region.
The largest congregation was held at Hazratbal Shrine, which also houses the Holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), here on the banks of Dal Lake. Braving freezing temperature, thousands of men, women and children devotees attended night-long prayers and sought peace, mercy and blessings from Almighty.
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The largest congregation of devotees was witnessed during Friday prayers at Hazratbal shrine today. A rough estimate suggested that over one lakh women and men devotees, who had come from length and breadth of Valley, offered Friday congregational prayers at Hazratbal shrine today despite bone-chilling cold. Apart from Friday prayers, the devotees thronged the Hazratbal shrine throughout the day on all other prayers.
The devotees were shown Holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The relic was brought to Hazratbal, formerly known as Bagh-i-Sadiqabad, in eighth century and since then it become most revered shrine of Kashmir Valley. The Holy relic was displayed to devotees five times today after the culmination of congregational prayers by head cleric of the Hazratbal shrine during which emotional scenes were witnessed with tears rolling down from the eyes of devotees, mostly women, who were seeking mercy from Almighty and regretting their sins.
State Government said all the arrangements were in place for the convenience of the devotees at Hazratbal. All the departments were put in service for the convenience of the devotees and that include Public Health Engin-eering (PHE), Health Department and Power Development Department (PDD). ‘Hazratbal Special’ buses of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) were plying from Lal Chowk to Hazratbal throughout the day. Stringent security arrangements were also in place in and around Hazratbal shrine. Scores of Jammu and Kashmir police cops were deployed to prevent any untoward incident while senior officers were keeping a vigil on entire Hazratbal area. The police were keeping a close eye on traffic and parking management.
National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and working president Omar Abdullah visited Dargah Hazratbal shrine and offered prayers. Farooq visited the shrine early morning and offered Fajr prayers. He prayed for peace, harmony and prosperity in the State. Omar Abdullah visited Dargah Hazratbal for congregational Friday prayers and also offered obeisance at the shrine and prayed for peace, prosperity and stability in the State.
Meanwhile, large congregations on Eid-e-Milad occasion were also held at Aasar-e-Shareef Shehri Kalashpora and Jinab Sahab Soura shrines in summer capital. In Srinagar, several mosques were reverberating with the praises for Allah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) throughout the night. Some rallies were also taken out in city areas to celebrate Milad.
In south Kashmir, thousands of devotees thronged Khiram-Hazratbal Shrine at Anantnag district, which also houses the Holy relic Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Several small and large rallies were taken out in Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian districts of the south Kashmir. The devotees holding green flags and banners raised slogans in praise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and emphasized on the teachings of Islam.
Major congregations were held at Kabba Marg, Jamia Masjid Reshi Bazar and Khankhah-e-Moulla Pampore in south Kashmir. In central and north Kashmir districts, similar congregations and rallies were held by devotees to celebrate Eid-e-Milad. A large congregation was held at the shrine of famous saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noraani, at Charar-e-Shareef in Budgam distrct. Police said the celebrations across the Valley culminated peacefully.
Besides congregations and rallies, several conferences and seminars were held at multiple places by different religious organizations and other groups in Valley including in summer capital Srinagar on the occasion of Milad.
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