Srinagar, June 15: With the inclement weather prevailing in Kashmir valley over the past two months, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani had planned a special prayer meeting at Hazratbal shrine on Saturday for improvement of climatic conditions, which was not allowed by the government.
The tradition to offer special prayers for improvement of weather conditions in the Valley is age-old. According to poet and social activists, Zareef Ahmad Zareef, in his childhood days, he remembers that special prayer meetings used to be organised at six shrines in Srinagar. They included Dargah Hazaratbal, Dastgeer Sahab, Khanqah-e-Moula, Naqashband Sahib, Baha-ud-Din Sahib and Makhdoom Sahib.
“Tauba Istigfar (propitiation prayers) to seek Allah’s forgiveness used to be held after Isha prayers at these shrines where people used to recite Quranic verses,” Zareef told Greater Kashmir.
 Zareef said that people used to go to the shrine of Makhdoom Sahib with water buckets. “There they would fill the pond and pray to Allah that the rains should stop. At Eidgah Naful prayers were being organised.”
 He said Bhaands (traditional performers) of Wathoora in Budgam would go to Chrar-e-Sharief shrine and participate in nightlong prayers. “And then in the day-time they would perform Jeshan. People would cry for the forgiveness,” he said.
 Similar was the tradition in Reshmal Sahib and Aishmuqam in Islamabad and Pakherpora in Budgam.
 “In north Kashmir’s Varmul, people would fill the Dheg (a big pot) with rice, mutton and other edibles and the preparation known as Tehar was being distributed among the people,” he said.
 He said that people would raise slogans like “Khairat Kabool, Baalie Kar Door, Ya Sheikh Sana, Abour Kar Fana.”
 However, Zareef said now the tradition has changed. “People were illiterate those days and had blind faith. Today people believe in weather forecasts. They know when there will be rain and when not.”
 “Now people call it global warming, climate change and western disturbances. People have more faith on science,” he added.
 People would offer Naful prayer near Chinars at Alikadal in case of natural calamities including drought. These Chinars are even called Naful Chinars.
 The horticulture and agriculture sector are expected to suffer huge losses due to the incessant rains this season.
 Experts say owing to a cold spell followed by heavy rainfall in the spring the fruit crop can suffer heave damages. “Also the dip in temperature has withered the crop,” they said.
ALTAF BABA ADDS FROM VARMUL:

 Pensive and puffing hookah on the verandah of his house at Sheri Narvaw near Varmul, Abdur Rashid Mir looks up at the skies and craves for sunny days so that his fruit crop grows well. But, the incessant drizzle depresses him and his family since it could devastate it financially. Similar anxiety gripped the entire area where fruit growing is the only means of livelihood.
 Turning nostalgic, Mir recalls the times when his area faced drought like situations and panic-stricken people thronged the shrine of Hazrat Syed Janbaz Wali (RA) at nearby Khanpora.
 “I was part of a procession, which took out Alam Sharief (sacred flags) from the Janbaz Wali (RA) shrine and culminated at Qadeem Eidgah here where prayers were held seeking divine intervention for rains,” Mir said.
 Recalling that the journey from the shrine to the Eidgah had a spiritual aura, Mir said thousands of devotees used to seek the blessings of Almighty Allah for improvement in the weather conditions.
 “The emotions used to run high as people washed the route ahead of the procession from Khanpora to the Eidgah, wherefrom the Alam Sharief passed,” he recalled.
 “People from all walks of life, including the local Kashmiri Pandits, used to join the procession who washed the stretch in front of their houses,” said 70-old Mir.
 Recalling an incident when three persons were killed and dozens fell sick after a dreaded disease hit the area, the custodian of Janbaz Wali (RA) shrine, Bashir Ahmad, said it was about 45 years ago that the last Alam procession was taken out from the shrine.
 “It was after this procession that people got rid of the disease and there were no more deaths in the area,” he claimed.
 According to him, the Dheg (big copper vessel) at the shrine was of great significance and people prepare Khichdi for distribution among the people.
 “About one and half quintal rice, 30 kg meat, 10 kg flour, 10 kg of gram, 7 kg salt, 5 kg of turmeric, 8 kg of ghee and spices are mixed for this Khichdi, which takes a whole day for cooking. After that, the Dheg remains sealed for the night and the Khichdi is distributed the next morning. Chilli powder and garlic is not used in the preparation,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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