Amid tight security arrangements, thousands of Shia mourners participated in the 8th Muharram procession through the heart of Srinagar today, officials said.
This marks the third consecutive year that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has permitted the traditional Muharram procession to pass through the city centre – a route that remained off-limits for over three decades following the outbreak of militancy in the early 1990s.
The mourners, carrying religious banners , began their march early in the morning from Guru Bazar locality. Mourners dressed in black were reciting marsiyas (elegies) and nohas (dirges). The chest-beating mourners eulogized sacrifice of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
The procession passed through Jahangir Chowk and Maulana Azad Road, before culminating at Dalgate.
The procession passed peacefully, officials said.
Traffic movement along the route was suspended to facilitate the smooth passage of the procession.
In a display of community service and solidarity, volunteers and senior officials from civil and police departments were seen offering water and assistance to the mourners at various points along the way.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said this is the third consecutive year the 8th Muharram procession was allowed on its traditional route.
“The district administration had made all necessary arrangements for the mourners, while the police ensured safety,” he said.
In Kashmir, two major Muharram processions are traditionally held – on the 8th and 10th of Muharram.
The 10th Muharram procession, which passes through Shia-dominated areas, has been regularly permitted.
