Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Apr 24: Ramadhan this year is going to be altogether different from what it used to be otherwise, with mosques shut for prayers amid COVID-19 outbreak, the Holy month is going to be remembered in all together a different way by people.
Ahead of Ramadhan, the markets used to remain abuzz with people going out for shopping. However, this year, while the lockdown was already in place, people could not go out to keep up with the supplies required during the month.
The affairs at the religious places like that of mosques are also going to be different this year as the world along Kashmir is struggling with the crises that have emerged out of pandemic that has now engulfed the entire world.
“It is hard to imagine that masjids are shut and it is going to continue even in the month of Ramadhan in which one can only think of worshiping and masjids buzzing,” Mehraj u Din, a resident said.
The congregational prayers at the end of every evening known as Taraveh used to be the centre of attraction during the entire month. However, the people have to offer all the prayers, as they have been doing since the imposition of lockdown, at home.
“Taraveh prayers used to ingrain that sense of blissfulness, but this time, it is quite different. This is happening for the first time in my lifetime, but we are hopeful that something better must be awaiting the humanity on the other side of it,” said an elderly person living in Srinagar.
What are also going to be missing from the scene are the dates and all those delicacies that used to remain available for the people to be consumed at the evening during Iftaar.
Keeping in view the need of those who are poor and underprivileged, the Srinagar administration is going to constantly supply the essentials to them during the month of Ramadhan, but somewhere, that void in joyfulness of the month will remain
“Restrictions are for our own good, let’s hope that things will improve,” said another resident.
While people feel that something important remains missing from their lives as of now, they also hope that by the time Eid approaches, they will be having changed scenario in front of them.
“We are hoping that by the time, Eid approaches, the situation on the ground might have changed towards better-however, the fact remains that something crucial is missing,” Mehraj-u-Din added.
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