On the first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan, thousands of devotees offered congregational prayers at mosques and shrines across valley.
The largest congregations were held at Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake and Jamia Masjid in old Srinagar, where worshippers, including a large number of women, gathered to offer prayers in an atmosphere of spirituality and reverence.
Addressing the large gathering at Jamia, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described Ramazan as a month of spiritual renewal and collective reform.
He said the historic Jamia Masjid has for centuries symbolized faith, unity, patience, and steadfastness for the people of Kashmir, and that the sacred month provides an opportunity to reconnect with these enduring values.
Referring to the challenges faced by the people, the Mirwaiz said that Ramazan comes as a mercy in times of uncertainty and hardship. Quoting the Qur’anic verse, “Indeed, with hardship comes ease”, he urged people to move away from despair and embrace hope and faith.
The Mirwaiz concluded with prayers for acceptance of fasts and supplications, relief for those in distress, stability in the region, and unity among the people during the blessed month of Ramazan.
