JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
On the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, a historic scene was witnessed when Juma-ul-Wida prayers were offered at the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar after a gap of nearly seven years. A large number of devotees arrived and offered prayers with devotion at the mosque, which had been closed for a long time due to security reasons.
The administration decided to reopen the mosque this time, drawing people from various parts of the Valley. Tight security arrangements were made throughout the area to avoid any untoward incident during the prayers. Additional police forces were deployed around the mosque, and traffic arrangements were also altered on several routes.
However, prominent Kashmiri religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not present. He alleged that he was placed under house arrest, preventing him from reaching the mosque or delivering the pre-prayer sermon. They say they were not allowed to leave their homes and security forces were deployed in the area.
The administration has kept the mosque closed on this day for several years. The main reason for this was that on previous occasions, anti-social elements and terrorists had attempted to disrupt the atmosphere, which could have affected law and order. Therefore, this step was taken keeping the safety of the public in mind.
This time, however, the atmosphere remained completely peaceful. Devotees who came for prayers said they felt relieved to offer prayers in the mosque after a long time. Local resident Adil Butt said that initially, their family members were concerned about security, but they decided to offer prayers in the mosque, and everything passed peacefully.
On the same day, a large number of people also offered Juma-ul-Wida prayers at other mosques and shrines, including the Hazratbal Shrine. Peace and harmony prevailed throughout Kashmir amid the religious atmosphere.
Overall, this prayer held at Jamia Masjid Srinagar after seven years was not only religiously significant but is also being considered a sign of the return of normalcy in the valley.
