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| After 34 years, Muharram procession taken out through heart of Srinagar | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 27: Muharram procession was taken out through the heart of city on Thursday after a gap of 34 years.
While the government termed it a 'historic' event, the mourners were seen as emotional for being part of the procession that passed through the traditional route.
Hundreds of Shia mourners hit the Srinagar roads in the wee hours to take out the 8th Muharram procession on the traditional route. Mourners clad in black dresses walked peacefully chanting praises and Nouhas.
The mourners started the procession from Guru Bazar and it passed through Karan Nagar, Budshah Chowk, Moulana Azad Road and reached Dalgate where it culminated peacefully.
"It is an emotional day for us. We used to hear from our elders about the Muharram procession being taken out from Guru Bazar. And today when the Muharram procession passed through the same road, we felt emotional.
We are grateful to the administration for allowing us to take out the procession after 34 years," said a Shia mourner, Zaffar, a resident of the old city.
After the Muharam procession was banned in late eighties, several youths used to try to march every year on the eighth day of Muharam on the traditional route, but they were stopped by police.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the 8th day Muharram procession, after a gap of 34 years, a "historic occasion".
"Today is a historic occasion for Shia brethren in Kashmir valley as after 34 years, the 8th Muharram procession is taking place on the traditional route, from Guru Bazar to Dalgate", the LG tweeted.
The LG administration on Wednesday evening decided to allow the 8th Muharram procession after having had it banned for more than three decades. The administration, however, had set a time window of two hours for the procession.
A three-tier security was in place for the conduct of the peaceful Muharram procession.
As the mourners were walking, top security and officials from the civil administration were keeping an eye on the situation.
Police said taking out the Muharam procession was a continued march of J&K towards peace and stability.
"Shia brethren here are quoting it as a historic day in J&K History which is showing a situation at par with the days when normalcy was prevailing in the state", police spokesman said.
"Keeping in view the sensitivity of the day, when the shadow of terrorism and petty politics of separatism made it impossible to hold such events, the procession was not taken out for the last over three decades in the aftermath of violence and arson during the event", police added.
But when it was restarted on Thursday, it simply showed "our resolve and commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future", a police statement said.
"Kudos to the people and participants", the police statement reads. The procession started at 6 am and culminated at 11 am.
Police said the forces were on the ground from 4 am. Naka and cut-off points were placed by 5 am before people started the procession, and traffic management was excellent since the morning.
The gathering of more than 25000 people in the form of a procession was fully disciplined and peaceful and well-coordinated. "It is certainly another historic day for our people," police added.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Rakesh Balwal thanked people for their cooperation and peaceful conduct of the Muharram procession.
"We were ready for the peaceful conduct of the Muharram procession and we got full cooperation from people", he told media persons. |
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