Thousands of faithful thronged mosques and shrines to observe Shab-e-Baraat, , one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar, with the Hazratbal shrine hosting the largest gathering on Thursday night.
Shab e Baraat is also known as the Night of Forgiveness or Day of Atonement. The faithful also visited the graves of their loved ones and prayed for them.
Earlier, Police on Thursday placed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was scheduled to deliver a sermon at Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Baraat, under house arrest. The people present on the premises were asked to leave and the mosque management was informed that there would be no night prayers.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has described as “unfortunate” the security establishment’s decision to seal Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid on Shab-e-Baraat.
“It is very unfortunate that the security establishment has taken the decision to seal the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, on one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar — Shab-e-Baraat,” Abdullah said in a post on X.
This decision betrays a lack of confidence in the people and in the law-and-order machinery that calm won’t prevail without extreme measures. The people of Srinagar deserved better,” he added.
Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has extended his warm greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Barat. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that in his message, the Chief Minister highlighted the spiritual significance of Shab-e-Barat and urged people to embrace the spiritual essence of the occasion and pray for the well-being of all humanity.