The Friday following Eid-e-Milad, marking the culmination of a weeklong celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) birth, was observed across the Kashmir Valley with immense religious fervour and devotion.
The day was highlighted by a massive congregation at the revered Hazratbal shrine, situated on the banks of the Dal Lake, where tens of thousands of worshippers assembled to offer prayers.
An emotional atmosphere gripped the shrine when the holy relic of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was displayed before the gathering—a centuries-old tradition that continues to draw the faithful from across the Valley.
Special night-long prayers, known as “ShabKhawani,” were also held on Thursday, with many devotees attending to offer prayers and supplications. These gatherings added to the religious spirit of the occasion.
News gathering agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) reported that besides Hazratbal, mosques and shrines across the Valley also saw large gatherings of worshippers. Religious scholars delivered sermons about the life and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (SAW), urging people to follow his path of kindness and humility.
Among the prominent devotees at Hazratbal was Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by his father and National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah. “The Chief Minister paid obeisance and offered prayers at Dargah Hazratbal on the occasion of Friday following Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), praying for peace, harmony, and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters after the congregation, Dr. Farooq Abdullah emphasized the importance of unity and interfaith harmony. “May the friendship between Hindus and Muslims remain strong in the country,” he said. Expressing deep concern about the condition of Muslims in India, he lamented, “Muslims are being beaten up everywhere as we have distanced ourselves from Allah. Until we return to Allah and give up dishonesty and theft, Allah will not forgive us.”
The administration had made elaborate security arrangements in and around Hazratbal, particularly in the wake of last Friday’s controversy, when the national emblem at the shrine was allegedly vandalised by devotees, leading to a police case and political uproar across the region.
Outside the shrine, the atmosphere resembled a festive fair. Dozens of stalls selling Kashmiri delicacies, handicrafts, and other goods lined the pathways, while government departments had also set up kiosks to assist devotees and showcase welfare schemes. The vibrant mix of spirituality, tradition, and festivity reflected the unique cultural character of Kashmir’s most significant religious occasion.(KINS) Ishtiyaq Kar
