Basit Zargar

For the second year, thousands of Shia Muslim mourners took out the eighth Muharram procession in Jammu & Kashmir’s Srinagar city on Monday.

Last year it was after 35 years that authorities had permitted the event with the organizers assuring a peaceful and disciplined Muharram procession.

The Shia Muslim mourners joined the procession that started at Guru Bazaar and ended in the Dalgate area of Srinagar city.

The procession is carried out to commemorate the martyrdom of the Prophet’s grandson, Imam Hussain, his family and supporters at the hands of Yazid’s army in the desert of Karbala in Iraq.

IGP Kashmir zone V. K. Birdi and officers of the civil administration monitored the Muharram procession. The IGP also served water and cool drinks to the mourners.

Mourners carrying Taziya in the procession

Shouting Islamic slogans and praising the sacrifice of Imam Hussain, the mourners behaved responsibly throughout the procession and did not give any reason to anti-social elements to stoke sectarian passions.

All sections of local society have lauded the decision of the administration to allow the 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar. It was allowed last year as well after a gap of over 30 years since armed violence started in J&K.

“Seeing mourners commemoratethe martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain is indeed a good step. We have been allowed to take out Muharram procession since last year, which is a welcome move” said Naqib Abbas Baba from Srinagar.

Mudasir Wali, a volunteer from the Yadgar-i-Hussaini committee said that securing permission was challenging.

The 8yh Muharram procession

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kashmir V K Bhirdi said the procession is being conducted in a very peaceful manner. Volunteers are cooperating with the police. We are always to facilitate the mourners.”

About whether the administration will allow the 10th Muharram procession, he said the permission part is taken care of by the district administration. “Once the permission is granted, we will ensure peaceful conduct of the procession,” he said.

The IGP also distributed refreshments to the mourners. Division Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri told reporters that. “Security forces and the local administration have played a great role in facilitating the Muharram procession,” he said. “Today’s peaceful procession is the dividend of the peace process.”