Srinagar/Jammu, March 21: Large gatherings were observed on Saturday during the Eid congregational prayers throughout the Kashmir Valley and in the Jammu division, as devotees came out in large numbers for the thanksgiving prayer after the completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
The largest gathering of devotees was seen at the Hazratbal shrine on the outskirts of Srinagar city. Over 70,000 devotees offered Eid prayers at the Hazratbal shrine on Saturday.
Former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, his son and the present Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and the president of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, joined the congregational prayers at the Hazratbal shrine.
However, Eid prayers were not allowed at the Jama Masjid in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar city due to reasons of maintaining law and order.
Chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq criticised the authorities for disallowing Eid prayers at Jama Masjid. He stated on X, "For the seventh consecutive year, despite restrictions and house arrests, Eid prayers remain prohibited at Jama Masjid. A day of celebration has turned into grief and denial for Muslims."
"It is ironic that those who lock our mosques and Eidgahs are the first to wish us, 'Eid Mubarak!'"
Large crowds of Muslims were seen at different mosques in various district headquarters, including Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, and Anantnag, during the Eid prayers.
Children wearing new clothes accompanied their parents to almost all places, while elders greeted and hugged each other after the conclusion of the prayers.
Similar prayers were held in different parts of the Jammu division, and the largest gathering of devotees was seen at the Eidgah grounds adjacent to the Residency Road in Jammu city.
Reports of peaceful Eid prayers have also come in from Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Samba, and Kathua districts of the Jammu division.
Officials said that Eid prayers were held peacefully throughout Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.
Authorities had made adequate arrangements for security throughout the Union Territory, especially since this is the first Eid after the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran.
