Mir Junaid
As the gates of Srinagar’s renowned Khanqah, Makdoom Sahab remained shut on Friday on the occasion of the annual Urs of Kashmir’s famous Sufi Saint- Hazrat Makhdoom Sahab, people from nooks and corners of the Kashmir valley spent their entire night in prayers on the stairs of the Khanqahs.
Numbered in thousands, Kashmiris had visited the Khanqah in Srinagar’s Rainawari area to perform Shab (night-long prayers) in respect of the 15-century Sufi saint Sheikh Hamza Makhdoomi popularly known as Makdoom Soub among Locals.
Earlier Friday congregational prayers were disallowed in main mosques masjids of Kashmir including Jama Masjid and shrines, particularly at Hazratbal and Makhdoom Sahib (RA).
The officials in Jammu Kashmir administration had ordered the Khanqah should not observe the annual Shab in wake of Covid 19.
Women, Men and children had however visited the shrine and after being disallowed camped outside the gate and spent the long night in prayers and Naat Khwani (Praises to the prophet).
The former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir condemned this move and said, “Preventing people from offering prayers & obeisance at mosques & shrines in Kashmir shows GOIs disrespect for sentiments of the majority community. Especially at a time when parks & public spaces are open & countless crowded govt functions held through the day. Reeks of bias.”