Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 10: Eid-e-Milad, the birth of Prophet Mohammad (SAW), was observed in Kashmir today, but only few hundred locals attended night long and day prayers at Hazratbal shrine where normally over one lakh people used to congregate as authorities imposed restrictions on the gathering.
This is for the fist time restrictions were imposed on Eid Milad prayers in Hazratbal. Police and paramilitary forces had barricaded the roads leading to Hazratbal shrine to prevent gathering on the occasion.
The roads leading to the shrine were blocked at Saida Kadal, Lal Bazar and Zakoora crossing with concertina wires and the devotees were not allowed to attend the prayers.
During the course of the day, only few hundred locals attended congregational prayers and were shown Holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The relic was brought to Hazratbal, formerly known as Bagh-i-Sadiqabad, in the eighth century and since then it became the most revered shrine of Kashmir valley.
The Holy relic was displayed five times 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.
Normally over one lakh people used to attend prayers at Hazratbal on the occasion but restrictions prevented people from attending the prayers.
On the occasion of Eid-e-Milad, prayers were also held at Aasar-e-Shareef Shehri Kalashpora and Jinab Sahab Soura shrines where only few hundred people attended the prayers due to restrictions imposed by the administration on gatherings at these places.
In South Kashmir, few hundred locals gathered at Khiram-Hazratbal shrine at Anantnag district, which also houses the Holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). After the culmination of congregational prayers the Holy relic was displayed.
A large gathering of people also attended prayers held at the shrine of famous saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, at Charar-e-Shareef in Budgam district.
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