After over three decades, authorities allowed the 8th Muharram procession to pass through its traditional route in Kashmir capital Srinagar on Thursday.
The administration had granted two-hour permission to the procession from 6 am to 8 am.
Thousands of mourners were part of the procession as it took off on the traditional route of Shaheed Gunj to Dalgate, a route which has been out of bounds for the processions in the backdrop of the law-and-order situation since 1989.
Eyewitnesses said that the mourners while shouting religious slogans marched peacefully as the procession moved through MA road in Srinagar towards Dalgate.
The administration had put all security arrangements in place to prevent any law-and-order situation during processions.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday decided to allow the 8th Muharram procession through the traditional routes with a timing rider after almost three decades.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the administration after considering the Shia leaders plea about allowing the Muharram processions through traditional routes, has decided to allow the processions on 8th Muharram.
“The procession on 8th will be allowed from traditional routes between 6 am to 8 am,” he said. Earlier, on Tuesday, Shia leaders had met LG Manoj Sinha and sought lifting of ban on Muharam processions through traditional routes that include Guru Bazar to Budshah bridge to M A Road to Dalgate and then to Zadibal for culmination.
Official sources said the timing has been fixed to ensure the general public faces least inconvenience as MA Road and Dalgate areas remain busy throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad has issued a formal order in this regard, saying that the procession has been allowed on several conditions.
The order reads that Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar vide number CS/45-23(Muh)/33730-34 Dated: 26-07-2023 has conveyed ‘NO OBJECTION’ in favour (Yaadgar-i-Hussaini Committee) for taking out Muharram procession on 8th Muharram-1445 from Guru Bazar to Dalgate via Budshah Kadal and M.A Road, Srinagar subject to the conditions.
The conditions include that they shall not indulge in any anti-national, anti establishment speeches, sloganeering or propaganda and no activity shall in any way affect the communal, sectarian harmony, religious, ethnic, cultural and regional sentiments of the people.
“No activity during the procession should be prejudicial to the security and sovereignty of the state and should not disrespect any national symbol, emblem. They shall not hoist any flag depicting provocative slogans, text and or photos of terror outfits, logos of banned organizations at both national and international level. The organizer(s) shall abide by all the rules and regulations and shall not indulge in any activity which may lead to law and order problems in the area,” it said.
It added that they shall not cause any defacement or damage to the Govt, public property. “The activities of the participants attending the procession should remain strictly confined to the programme only. They shall cooperate with local police and other security agencies as desired by them in the public interest. They shall not cause any obstruction in smooth flow of traffic on roads, routes falling in close vicinity of the area and they shall not use Drone during the procession without proper permission,” the order added.
DC Srinagar in his order said that keeping in view the above; the permission is hereby granted in favour of Yaadgar-i-Hussaini Committee, Kaloo Manzil Mohalla Guru Bazar for taking out Muharram procession on 8th Muharram-1445 from Guru Bazar to Dalgate via Budshah Kadal and M.A Road, Srinagar from 6:00 am to 8:00 am on 27th July, 2023.
“The time window has been finalized in the larger public interest as the procession route encompasses massive business, commercial establishments, movement of ambulances, students, office staff, general passengers, etc,” the order reads.
Meanwhile, the Shia clerics have appealed to people to join the procession in a peaceful manner.
“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has permitted the Muharram 8 procession after 3 decades. I urge all the Azadars of Imam Hussain (a.s.) to participate in this historical juloos in a peaceful manner, becoming the messengers of Hussain (a.s.) to the whole world. Let our devotion resonate with love and compassion, as we carry the timeless message of Imam Hussain’s sacrifice,” President of J&K Shia Association, Imran Raza Ansari said.
Chairman, Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian Darul Mustafa, Aga Syed Mujatba welcomed the government order and said that they will participate in the procession tomorrow.
“We will carry out the procession as per the timing given by the government,” he said.
Pertinently, the procession on the routes from Guru Bazar to Dalgate via Budshah Kadal and M.A Road, Srinagar will be carried out after 32 years. The procession along the major routes on 8th and 10th Muharram were banned by the then government in 1989—(KNO)
