Emotional scenes witnessed during prayers

Srinagar, Jan 12: Emotional scenes were witnessed during the special prayers for end to the ongoing dry spell at historic Jamia Masjid in Downtown here.

With moist eyes, a large number of people offered Salat-ul-Istisqa. “Ya Allah forgive us,” reverberated at the Jamia Masjid.

Mufti GhulamRasool, who led the prayers, said that the prayers have been offered in view of prolonged dry spell. He said that scores of devotees gathered and asked for forgiveness during the congregational prayers.

“These are teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW, who taught us to offer these prayers during dry spells. We gathered to ask for forgiveness of our sins so that Allah will bring beneficial precipitation to the valley,” he said.

“People have left good deeds, and this is the reason we are witnessing such an unprecedented situation. Never in my life have I seen such sunny days and no snow during January,” said Abdul Qadir, an elderly devotee, with moist eyes.

The devotees expressed their concern over the drastic weather change. They said it will have serious implications on the life and economy of Kashmir.

“We have stopped taking care of the environment and destroyed this with our own hands. Farmers, tourist players, and our sustenance depend on winter snow, and this weather trend is scary,” said a young devotee as he burst into tears seeking forgiveness.