Srinagar administration grants permission for 8th Muharram procession from Guru Bazar to Dalgate

Srinagar, July 14: The district administration Srinagar on Sunday granted permission for 8^th Muharram procession from Guru Bazar to Dalgate via Budshah Kadal and M.A Road, Srinagar.

An order issued by District Magistrate Srinagar reads, “The permission is granted in favour of Yaadgar-i-Hussaini Committee, Kaloo Manzil Mohalla Guru Bazar for taking out Muharram procession on 8^th Muharram from Guru Bazar to Dalgar via Budshah Kadal and MA Road, Srinagar, the traditional route. However they shall start from Guru Bazar at 0600 hours and tail of the procession shall across Jehangir Chowk at 0630 hours and J&K Bank Headquarters, MA Road at 0800 hours. The time window has been finalized in the larger public interest as the procession route encompasses massive business/commercial establishments, movement of ambulances, students, office staff, general passengers, etc”.

The permission as per order will remain subject to the conditions that they shall use one tube of road (Left side) and shall keep other side of road (right side) open for plying of emergency service vehicles etc; That the organizers of the said procession shall ensure that the procession is culminated within the prescribed timeframe set by the administration; That they shall not indulge in any anti-national / anti-administration speeches / sloganeering or propaganda and no activity shall in any way affect the communal sectarian harmony, religious / ethnic /cultural and regional sentiments of the people; That no activity during the procession should be prejudicial to the security and sovereignty of the state and should not disrespect any national symbol / emblem; That they shall not hoist any flag depicting provocative slogans / text and/or photos of terrorists, logos of banned organizations both international and national; That the organizer(s) shall abide by all the rules and regulations and shall not indulge in any activity which may led to law and order problem in the area; That they shall not cause any defacement or damage to Govt/public property; That they shall cooperate with local police and other security agencies for salient purpose; That they shall not cause any obstruction in smooth flow of traffic/medical exigencies; That they shall not use drone during the procession; That they shall not install public address system or stage and loudspeakers in any case which may cause inconvenience to others, the order issued reads.

Notably the J&K Lieutenant Governor’s administration in July 2023 lifted the ban on the Muharram procession on the Gurubazar-Dalgate route in Srinagar. The last year’s procession was the first one which was allowed in more than three decades.