Shabir Ali
Following a gap of over three decades, the streets of Srinagar reverberated with ‘Ya Hussain’ Slogans on the eighth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Muharram marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam e Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet who was martyred by the forces of Yazid in Karbala Iraq along with his companions on the 10th day of Muharram on the 61st Hijri year.
Eyewitnesses told The Kashmiriyat that though the admin had granted permission from 6 A.M, devotees started reaching Guru Bazar as early as 4 A.M. Police and paramilitary troopers were deployed across all streets in Srinagar.
Throughout the way from Guru Bazar to Dalgate where the procession ended, Sunni Muslims had installed stalls for the Shia devotees who recited Nouhas (mourning poetry) and marched the streets of Srinagar.
Shabir Hassan, one of the thousands of devotees who joined the procession said, “I reached Srinagar from Budgam as soon as the admin announced the lifting of restrictions on the procession. At least four vehicles came from the same locality. We spent most part of the night at the Khanqah of Hazrat Makhdoom sahab and then at the time of Fajr prayers, we reached Guru Bazar,” he said.
A female devotee said that she reached Guru Bazar in Srinagar around 4 A.M. “He (Hussain) gave his life for Muslims, for the truth, humanity and principles of justice. My whole life be sacrificed for him, why not my time,” she said, marching ahead with the procession carrying eatables in her hand.
Masoom Ali, another Muslim devotee said that who reached Guru Bazar from Hanjiwara in Bandipora in north Kashmir said, “I have always heard of the procession from my elders. As soon as they announced that the restrictions were lifted, my grandfather, my father, and I along with my brothers rushed to Srinagar and we spent our night in the vehicle that we boarded from our village. The driver did not charge us anything,” said Masoom before he ran to meet his father barely fifty meters away.
The martyrdom of Imam e Hussain is commemorated globally by Muslims. In Kashmir, massive processions were taken out on the 7th, 8th, and 10th day of Muharram in the capital city of Srinagar. However, following the eruption of militancy, the processions were banned.
Though the Shia leadership and Sunni clerics met and appealed to consecutive Governments to allow the processions, the Police at times cited law and order apprehensions and at times they cited Shias might be attacked by Sunnis.
After 34 years, the administration of Jammu Kashmir following several rounds of deliberations and discussions on Wednesday evening announced the lifting of curbs and issued an order lifting the three-decade ban.
“The procession started at 6 am and culminated at 11 am. Our forces were on the ground since 4 am, while Naka and cut-off points were placed by 5 am. Before people started the procession traffic management remained excellent since morning,” Police said in their statement.