Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 16: Eid-ul-Azha, marking the culmination of the annual holy pilgrimage, Hajj, will be celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir with religious fervour and zeal tomorrow.
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In this regard, the Eid congregational prayers will be held early in the morning, with the largest congregation expected at Dargah Hazratbal, which witnesses the presence of thousands of people every year for Eid prayers.
The J&K Muslim Waqf Board has issued timings for the Eid prayers. At Dargah Hazratbal, the prayers will be held at 10 AM. Arrangements at Dargah Hazratbal, officials said, have been put in place to facilitate people.
Other Masjids and shrines include Asar-e-Sharief, Kaba Marg, where the Eid prayers will be held at 9 AM; 9 AM at Asar-e-Sharief, Jinab Sahab, Soura; 11 AM at Khankah-e-Muala; 10 AM at Naqsh Band Sahib; 9:30 AM at Charar-e-Sharief; and 9 AM at Dastgeer Sahib, Khanyar.
“Proper arrangements are in place for tomorrow across all the mosques and shrines under our control. The largest congregation will be held at Dargah Hazratbal, and our staff will be working on Eid to provide the necessary facilities to people,” Chairperson J&K Waqf Board, Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi told media persons here.
At the historic Jamia Masjid, the Auqaf has informed that the Eid prayers will be held at 9 AM, while it has also been announced that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will deliver the Eid sermon at 8 AM.
While holding the Eid prayers at Eidgah used to be a norm, however, this year, as in previous years, it has not been ensured, with the upgradation of Eidgah being given as the reason.
In this regard, the Jamia Auqaf stated that it had asked the J&K Muslim Waqf Board to ensure the necessary arrangements, but to no avail.
“For over a year now, under the pretext of upgrading Eidgah, the Waqf Board has not completed the repair works despite repeated requests and reminders,” Jamia Auqaf said.
On the other hand, the last day of preparations saw people flocking to markets, buying clothes, footwear, and other eatables that remain in demand ahead of Eid.
While the major attraction of Eid-ul-Azha remains ‘Qurbani,’ people were also seen visiting the mandis where sacrificial animals were on sale, ensuring arrangements were well in place.
Eidgah mandi, the largest spot for the sale of sacrificial animals, remained a major attraction during the day. People were seen buying animals to be sacrificed on the 10th and 11th of the Islamic calendar month Dhu al-Hijja, marking Eid-ul-Azha.
Chairperson J&K Waqf Board also extended wishes to the people of J&K on the occasion. In her message, she said: “Eid-ul-Adha Mubarak to all. It’s a day of gratefulness to Allah for all His blessings on us. Eid al-Adha teaches us the significance of sacrifice, love, and compassion. The festival shows us the path of righteousness and surrender to Almighty.”
In his Eid greetings, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq recalled the unparalleled sacrifices of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Prophet Ismail (AS). He stressed that as an Islamic community, there is a dire need to promote the spirit of sacrifice and altruism at every stage.
Meanwhile, to review the arrangements, DC Srinagar Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat visited the Hazratbal Shrine to take stock of arrangements made by various departments for the celebration of Eid-ul-Azha. He also extended wishes to people on the auspicious occasion of Eid.
While reviewing the arrangements on the spot, the DC directed the concerned officers to ensure every facility for the devotees, especially regarding water supply, electricity, healthcare, cleanliness, and illumination in and around the shrine, besides proper transportation, parking facilities, deployment of fire tenders, and the establishment of emergency control rooms.
For the day, the traffic department has also ensured proper arrangements to ensure the seamless movement of people, coupled with the availability of transport.
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