Srinagar, Oct 14: Around one lakh devotees were witnessed at the Hazratbal shrine on the Friday following Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), police officials said.
While the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was observed on last Sunday, the devotees in the Valley today observed Friday following Eid-e-Milad with religious fervor and zeal.
In a tweet, Srinagar police said, “Approximately one lakh devotees attended Friday afternoon prayers in Hazratbal Dargah on ‘Friday following Eid-Milad-un-Nabi’. The day is being observed peacefully with full religious fervour at Dargah. Exhaustive Security and traffic arrangements are in place.”
Although congregational prayers were offered at numerous shrines and mosques throughout the Valley, however, the main gathering was held at the Dargah Hazratbal shrine, where devotees from all over the Valley came in together to offer the special prayers.
Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) for Srinagar Traffic, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, told Rising Kashmir that he and his traffic personnel were on the ground all day to manage traffic on the various earmarked routes leading towards the shrine.
He added that the day witnessed the smooth movement of vehicles without any major disruptions.
“An unprecedented footfall of devotees was witnessed on the occasion of Friday following Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), however, we had already issued the route plan for vehicles coming from all the districts of the valley carrying devotees,” he said.
“I along with other traffic personnel remained on ground to man the smooth movement of traffic. The traffic movement remained smooth throughout the day and people adhered to the route plan and exhibited a good traffic discipline,” the SSP Traffic Srinagar said.
He further informed that there was such a heavy rush since morning that even the parking spaces exceeded their capacity.
The authorities had made special arrangements to facilitate movement of devotees to the shrine.
“J&K Road Transport Corporation buses and private vehicles from various transport associations were enlisted to transport the devotees to and from Hazratbal,” the SSP Traffic Srinagar said.
On Thursday night, a good number of devotees gathered at the Hazratbal shrine to participate in the prayers known as “Shab Khawani,” while the nearby markets bustled with people making purchases from roadside vendors.
People prayed throughout the night, offering “Durood” (praise of the Prophet), and recited verses from the Holy Quran to ask for forgiveness.
According to the officials, elaborate arrangements were made for the convenience of the general public visiting the shrine.
Dr. Syed Haneef Balkhi, the Additional Deputy Commissioner for Srinagar, told Rising Kashmir that elaborate arrangements were made for Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), including setting up medical camps, setting up a 24-hour control room during these days, and making e-Rickshaws available to transport pilgrims from Habak Point to the shrine.
The officials said that besides transport, arrangements of power, drinking water, medical aid camps and sanitation were made for the convenience of people.
“All arrangements were in place in view of the observance of Friday following Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), medical camps, control room, and for the first time services of E-Rickshaws were pressed in to ferry devotees from Habak point to shrine”, ADC Srinagar said.
The police official said that special security and traffic arrangements were put in place by the authorities today to ensure a peaceful culmination of special prayers.
The officials said that all the arrangements including traffic route plan, security plan, medical camps and others were made, yet the public cooperation helped to ensure smooth passage to the devotees and culmination of special congregational prayers.
Several seminars and Seerat conferences were organized across the Valley while the Islamic clerics threw light on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during the Friday sermons.
The congregational prayers were held at many shrines including Khiram Sirhama Anantnag, Asarisharif Kalashpora, Jenab Sahab Soura, Pinjoora Shopian, Seer Hamadan, Kaba Marg Qaimoh and Aham Sharief Bandipora in north Kashmir where massive gathering of devotees was witnessed.
