Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 4: Amid meticulous arrangements by the administration, thousands of mourners today participated in the traditional 8th Muharram procession from Guru Bazar to Dalgate.
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The procession, held with official permission, commenced at 5 a.m., with mourners marching while reciting eulogies in memory of the martyrs of Karbala.
Following its designated route, the procession passed through Jehangir Chowk, then proceeded towards Budshah Bridge and Maulana Azad Road before culminating at Dalgate, where participants dispersed to their respective localities.
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Authorities had provided a specific time window to avoid disruptions and accordingly, mourners began assembling at the starting point well before dawn.
To ensure smooth conduct, the Traffic Department issued advisories for commuters-under which vehicles were rerouted via Residency Road, Hari Singh High Street, and Jehangir Chowk-while police and paramilitary forces secured the entire route.
Senior officials including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and SSP Srinagar joined the procession at Lal Chowk and served water to mourners.
Speaking to reporters, Bidhuri said all necessary arrangements including drinking water, health services, traffic diversions, and security had been made in advance to ensure the smooth conduct of the procession.
He urged mourners to maintain the sanctity of the event and remain true to its religious significance.
Regarding the 10th Muharram procession, he said the authorities were closely monitoring the situation and that a decision would be taken at an appropriate time.
IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi also highlighted the coordinated efforts of the civil administration and police to ensure a seamless observance of religious events.
He said the civil administration and police worked together to ensure that no one faced any inconvenience. “Traffic diversions and public awareness measures were implemented to avoid congestion.”
Water sprinklers and hundreds of community volunteers were seen along the route to assist mourners, with children and elderly in prominence.
Notably, the 8th Muharram procession had been banned since ’90s. The ban was lifted in 2022 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration.
While thousands are expected to participate in upcoming Muharram events, the 8th of Muharram holds deep significance as it marks the peak of mourning in the run-up to Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Muharram 9 and 10 processions, the Traffic Police Office (Rural Kashmir) issued advisories informing the public that vehicular movement along the Srinagar-Gulmarg road at Magam will be affected. Motorists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel on this route during the processions.
Traffic diversions for Muharram 9 and 10 include Beerwah-bound traffic to be diverted via Kanihama Chowk, Batapora, Roshanabad, and onward to Beerwah; Gulmarg-bound traffic diverted via Khumani Chowk towards Lalpora; Srinagar-bound Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) diverted via Mangloora towards Zangam, Baramulla; and Srinagar-bound light motor vehicles (LMVs) diverted via Chichloora towards Kralpora, Magam.
In Baramulla district, traffic movement will be affected in Delina, Hanjiveera, and Mirgund areas on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and commuters have been asked to avoid unnecessary travel on the Srinagar-Baramulla road.
During the Baramulla processions, traffic at Delina in both directions-Srinagar-bound and Baramulla-bound-will be diverted via Sangrama and Kanispora Road, while to keep Hanjiveera traffic-free, vehicles from both directions will be diverted via Narbal, Hamray, and Zangam Road.
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