Kashmir observing Rabi ul Awal with devotion, Anantnag readies for grand Milad rally

August 29, 2025 by News Desk

Meer Irfan

After days of rainfall, the sacred month of Rabi ul Awal has brought a spiritual aura back to Kashmir with deep devotion and festive fervor. Religious congregations are lighting up Srinagar’s key Khanqahs, including Makhdoom Sahab and Dastgeer Sahab, and numerous mosques across the valley, drawing worshippers to reflect on the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) life and legacy.

On Friday, Delivering his sermon at Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq highlighted the Prophet’s universal message, “The Prophet’s life was not confined to one community or one era, his compassion and sense of justice are timeless values. In following his path, we find the way to heal divisions and build a society rooted in dignity and respect.”

At Jamia Masjid Anantnag, the spiritual pulse of the town grew stronger today as the program and route for the grand Milad un Nabi procession, set for Rabi ul Awal 12, were officially announced. Organizers anticipate nearly 50,000 participants to march through Anantnag’s main thoroughfares.

Since the start of the month, daily spiritual sessions have taken place at the Khanqah of Hazrat Baba Hyder Reshi, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. These gatherings, focused on sermons about the Prophet’s services, will continue through the 12th of Rabi ul Awal. Local vendors in Reshi Bazar are also witnessing an economic uplift. Afroz Ahmed, a shopkeeper, said, “Customers have been buying flags and buntings in large numbers. Every household wants to decorate, and the streets are glowing. It feels like the whole town is preparing together.”

Anantnag’s homes, shops, and lanes are festooned with flags, banners, decorative lights, and green drapery, transforming the town into a vibrant hub. The surge in mosque attendance further underscores the spiritual significance of this sacred month.

Beyond Anantnag, the devotional wave has spread, bringing Quranic recitations and reflective sermons to Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, and North Kashmir. These gatherings foster a sense of unity across diverse community groups, transcending social and economic divides.

In Shopian, Pinjoora’s grand mosque turned into a centre of worship where preachers stressed on the Prophet’s simplicity and service to mankind. The town’s smaller mosques in Keller and adjoining villages also held special recitation sessions, with families attending in large numbers.

In Kulgam, gatherings were marked by Quranic recitations and naats, with local scholars urging the youth to embody the Prophet’s ethics in everyday life. Streets in Kulgam town were draped with green flags, and residents set up free food stalls for devotees.

In Srinagar, the shrines of Makhdoom Sahab and Dastgeer Sahab witnessed overwhelming participation. Worshippers thronged the courtyards since early morning, listening to sermons that emphasised unity, peace, and spiritual discipline. The celebrations are expected to intensify in the coming week as the valley prepares for the main day of Milad.