No night-long prayers; regulated gathering
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Nov 27: The 892nd annual Urs of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) popularly known as Ghous-ul-Azam Peer Dastgeer Sahib was today observed with fervour and gaiety amid huge participation of people who thronged the shrine from various parts of Kashmir valley.
People were seen reaching the shrine situated in the old city’s Khanyar area and participating in the prayers that were held through the day. Similar scenes were observed at Sarai Bala and Jenab Sahib Soura-both the places witnessed a huge rush of faithful’s throughout the day.
The Urs is held on 11th Rabi al-Thani which is the fourth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. The preparations for the day start right for 1st Rabi al-Thani which includes the conduct of special prayers at the shrine and continue till the end of the day 11th. On the 11th, the relics of Dastgeer Sahib are displayed for the general public.
Every year, night-long prayers are also held at the shrine which witnesses huge participation of people from across Kashmir valley, particularly of those who are living in the nearby areas of the Srinagar City.
However, this time, due to the COVID-19, the occasion was presented a different look as the night-long prayers were not allowed at all. This year, there were also restrictions on the display of the relics was made inside the shrine keeping in view the number of people and the limited space inside.
The shrine management had earlier stated that the shrine will remain closed for devotees from Thursday afternoon, up to Friday morning to keep a check on the public gathering in the shrine.
Despite directions for strict adherence to the SOPs because of COVID-19 thousands of people managed to reach the shrine on the day and offered prayers. The devotees said that they prayed for the peace and prosperity of J&K in particular and the world in general.
On the day, the district administration had put in place a volley of arrangements apart from directions to the management of the shrine to make sure that the SOPs in view of the pandemic are followed throughout.
Curtailment-free schedules for power and water supplies were put in place for the shrines and the surrounding areas on the occasion of the Urs, while as a thorough traffic regulation plans were also put in place to make sure that the traffic remains regulated on the occasion of the Urs.
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