Srinagar: Prayers remained suspended in all main shrines, Jamia Masjids and other worship places in the Kashmir valley, where authorities re-imposed corona curfew on Friday to prevent any further surge in the COVID-19 positive cases.
However, Friday prayers were offered in small mosques, particularly in the interior parts, and devotees were seen wearing masks and also keeping social distancing during the congregational prayers.
The main doors of historic Jamia Masjid in the down town city remained closed and no prayers were offered in the worship place since holy month of Ramadhan when Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid (AAJM) announced suspension of prayers following increase in the COVID positive cases in the valley. The AAJM, headed by Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) had said that no prayers would be held in the Masjid till further orders. Mirwaiz remained under house arrest since August 4, 2019 a day before the centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A besides divided the Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs).
Jammu and Kashmir Wakf Board has also announced suspension of all prayers, including Friday, in about 133 shrines and other worship places under its control in the UT J&K. Therefore, no prayers were held in Asaar-e-Sharief, Hazratbal , which houses the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhamma, on the bank of Dal Lake. Similarly no prayers were held at the shrine of Hazrat Mehboob-ul-Aalam, Hazrat Syed Sahib, Sonawar, Hazrat Gousal-ul-Azam at Khanyar and Sarai Bala, Khankha Moula and other shrines in Srinagar. However, in the interior parts congregational prayers were offered by the devotees.
Reports reaching from central Kashmir district of Badgam said no prayers were offered in main shrine, including the shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Nooruddin Wali at Charar-e-Sharie, and other worship place.
Similar reports were also received from south and north Kashmir, where main shrines and Jamia Masjids remained closed. (UNI)