Shab-e-Baraat observed with religious fervour

Srinagar, Feb 25: Thousands of devotees thronged the Hazratbal shrine on the occasion of Shab-e-Baraat on Sunday.

Hazratbal, which hosted the largest gathering, reverberated with Zikr-o-Azkaar throughout the night as devotees indulged in night-long prayers.

The Shab-e-Baraat falls during the intervening night of 14 and 15 Shaban, the eighth month of the lunar Hijri calendar.

Imam Khateeb Hazratbal shrine, Kamaal Farooqi told Greater Kashmir that night-long special prayers and Darood-o-Azkaar were held at Dargah Hazratbal, which hosts the largest gathering across Kashmir. He said that the Esha prayers were offered at 10 pm, in which devotes from across Kashmir participated.

“This is a holy occasion which is observed by Muslims with enthusiasm. This is the night that we should spend in remembrance of Allah and seek forgiveness. Since the afternoon of Sunday, people were thronging the shrine, and after Magrib, there was a special gathering of Naat Khawani and Darood-o-Azkaar. I delivered a sermon on the importance of the night and how we should spend it in prayers,” Farooqi said.

Officials said that special arrangements were made by the shrine Intizamia for the night-long prayers. The officials in the administration said that various departments made special arrangements to facilitate congregational prayers at various religious places.

The authorities said that Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), J&K Road Transport Corporation, Police, Power Development Department, and the district administration had made special arrangements for the night. Officials said that SMC had pressed men and machinery across religious places in Srinagar to facilitate cleanliness around religious places.

J&K Waqf Board Chairperson, Darakshan Andrabi also visited the Hazratbal shrine to take stock of the arrangements on Sunday.

She said that all arrangements were in place and that the administration would ensure that devotees do not face any issues.

“I visited Hazratbal shrine and Dastgeer Sahab (RA) shrine and took stock of the arrangements. Everything is in place. Our staff has ensured that devotees don’t face any issues across shrines and Masjids under the Waqf. I also appeal to the devotees to cooperate and take care of cleanliness as this is their responsibility too. This is the night of forgiveness and we hope that devotees will spend it in prayers and won’t face any issues as far as the arrangements are concerned,” Andrabi said.

In Kashmir, the markets across major shrines and Masjids like Hazratbal were decorated with lights while traders and vendors witnessed brisk sales.

“This is a blessed occasion, and it becomes a reason for our livelihood. All the devotees who visit the shrine also ensure to buy snacks and other items which results in earning livelihood for us,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a vendor at Hazratbal.

Meanwhile, prayers were also scheduled to be offered at Charar-e-Sharif, Khanqah-e-Moula, and other major shrines across Kashmir.

The devotees also offered special congregational prayers at Buka-e-Aliya Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sheikh Hamza Maqdoomi (RA), Ziyarat Dastagir Sahab (RA), Ziyarat Sheikh Nur Ud Din Noorani (RA), Ziyarat Naqshband Sahab, Ziyarat Kalashpora, and other prominent shrines across Kashmir