Thousands of Shia Mourners participated in the 8th Muharram procession along the traditional route in Srinagar after the J&K administration allowed the procession to continue for the third consecutive year, which was banned earlier.
The procession began at 5:00 am from Guru Bazar and passed through the BudshahKadal and Maulana Azad Road before ending at Dalgate.
The route was barred for 35 years due to security concerns after the onset of militancy in the erstwhile state in the late 80s.
The route was reopened by the LG administration in 2023, a move that received massive appreciation from the civil and religious societies alike.
The administration has made extensive security and logistical arrangements, said the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri.
He chaired a high-level meeting with security officials, senior police officers, and representatives of Shia organisations ahead of upcoming Muharram processions.
Meanwhile, apart from the security arrangements, the administration has issued traffic advisories in advance, stating, “Traffic along the route from Guru Bazar to Dalgate will be restricted from early morning.”
The traffic today was also redirected by the administration to avoid inconvenience to the mourners and those who needed to travel to their respective workplaces, hospitals, and homes in Srinagar city and adjacent areas.
Eyewitnesses and several participants said as the procession began that Aazadar-e-Hussain are now marching peacefully, beating their chests and chanting elegies in memory of Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
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