Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 5: Eid-ul-Fitr was today celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Kashmir with wet weather playing spoilsport forcing people to offer prayers inside Masjids instead of prayer grounds.
The largest Eid gathering was held at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar where Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed the gathering.
Besides, thousands of Muslims thronged various Eidgahs, shrines and Masjids this morning to offer Eid payers which was followed by exchanging the Eid greetings and pleasantries.
The religious places were decorated and people thronged in large numbers to offer prayers since early morning.
On the occasion, Imams prayed for peace and harmony in the State and thanked Allah for successful culmination of Ramadan.
Elaborate arrangements were made by the divisional administration for smooth celebrations of Eid.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between youth and security forces at several places after Eid prayers in which scores of youth sustained injuries.
Clashes broke out in Jamia Masjid area of Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian towns after Eid prayers. Youth pelted stones on the security forces who fired, tear gas and pellets to disperse them.
Clashes also broke out in Sopore and Kupwara this morning that continued till afternoon during which forces used teargas canisters to disperse the protesters.
Mirwaiz while addressing gathering at Jamia Masjid besides shedding light on the philosophy of Eid-ul-Fitr, prayed for the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan, stating that Confidence Building Measures could be a starting point which would pave way for the resolution of all issues amicably, including the long-standing Kashmir issue which is lingering for the past 70 years plus.
He reiterated the stand of Kashmiri leadership to help bridge the divide between them, which was imperative for resolution of Kashmir issue and to devise a mechanism for dialogue and deliberations.
Demanding the opening of traditional routes to facilitate travel and trade and families and friends contact between the divided parts of Kashmir, Mirwaiz said all natural routes of divided Jammu and Kashmir should be re-opened so that people are allowed to connect to their loved ones.
He hoped that the New Delhi’s new ruling dispensation will take positive steps for resolution of the basic political problem and will work for its redressal to end uncertainty once and for all.
Mirwaiz said at this joyful occasion, Eid-ul-Fitr leadership and the people of Kashmir remember and stand with all those leaders, activists and youth detained in different jails in and outside the valley over the years.
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