Srinagar, Aug 14: The worship places, including shrines, Jamia Masjids, Gurdwaras, temples and Churches remained closed since March this year due to COVID-19 pandemic in the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, where authorities have announced to ease lockdown restriction from Saturday evening and allow people to offer congregational prayers from August 16.
Administration, doctors and experts have reiterated the need to strictly follow guidelines, including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and avoiding social and religious gathering to curtail the spread of COVID-19 cases in the valley.
Majority of the people in the valley, adhering to the guidelines, offered mid-day (instead of Friday) prayers at their respective residences.
All gates to historic Jamia masjid remained closed for devotees since March this year, when government ordered closure of all religious places in view of COVID-19 pandemic. The Jamia market also remained closed today and forces remained deployed in the area to prevent people from entering the worship places.
Gates of other major mosques and shrines, including Asaar-e-Sharief Hazratbal, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), also remained closed. Prayers in major mosques and shrines remained suspended for the 22nd consecutive week on Friday due to restrictions on religious gatherings to prevent spread of COVID-19 in the valley.
However, people offered Friday prayers in small and interior mosques in the valley though authorities are yet to lift ban on congregational prayers.
No congregational Shab-e-Qadar prayers were offered in any mosque in the valley. No prayers were offered on Jamat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the holy fasting month Ramzan, in the valley, where Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha prayers were offered by people in their respective houses.
On August 4 the Principal Secretary power and Information Rohit Kansal said the Union Territory (UT) government has decided to reopen religious places and worship places from August 16.
In a tweet he said, “Major decision by J&K Government. All religious places and places of worship to open in Jammu & Kashmir from August 16, 2020. Religious processions and large religious gatherings remain strictly prohibited.”
The temples, including Shankarachiariya on the hill of Takhat-e-Suliman and Hanuman Mandir also remained closed. Due to COVID-19 no function was organized on Janamashtami recently. Similarly Gurdwaras and Churches also remained closed for devotees in the valley.
Worship places likely to reopen in J&K from Aug 16
