MASJIDS in this Himalayan region City are offering cool atmosphere this summer. Reasons: Much on the lines of worship places in the hot Middle-East, air-conditioners have made way into Masjids in Srinagar, the summer Capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
 While a Masjid in uptown Hyderpora introduced the facility last year, in the latest, at least two more–one at Karan Nagar and the other at Barzulla have installed the ACs even as many more plan to go for the hi-tech but comparatively costly cooling, soon.

 The trend
 On the onset of Ramadan, Masjid Syed Karam Shah (RA) at Karan Nagar commissioned the AC, while Musalees, whose number swells considerably in the fasting month, hailed the endeavour.
 “Earlier there would be complaints that electric fans don’t provide requisite coolness amid hundreds of people on board, every floor. But now everyone offers prayers in literally cool environment,” said Ghulam Qadir Batloo, a senior member of the Masjid Intizaamiya adding that four ACs have been installed for the 1000 odd square-feet area.
 “It’s really cooling to offer Salah in such a congenial atmosphere,” hailed Mukhtar Ahmed, a local.
 People at Jamia Masjid Barzulla echoed similar views.  “See this is something worth appreciating. We are making the use of latest technology to upgrade our Masjids,” said a medico who regularly offers Salah at the Barzulla Masjid.

THE INSPIRATION
 Impressed, the Intizaamiya Committee of Jamia Masjid Imam-e-Abu Hanifa (RA) Pir Bagh said it would also go for the air conditioning soon.
  “Earlier I had some inhibitions whether or not it would be successful. But now that it’s doing well elsewhere here, we’ll Insha Allah go for it soon,” Ghulam Mustafa, the Intizaamiya President told Greater Kashmir.
 Pertinently last year Masjid-e-Moomin at plush Hyderpora got air-conditioned when the Intizaamiya headed by a local Farooq Ahmed Shah who is also a senior bureaucrat, pioneered the idea.
 Experts said the air-conditioning is done on parameters like cubic area, number of doors and windows of a Masjid. “Normally a Masjid floor here needs four to six ACs,” said Abdul Rahim proprietor of Rahim Electric Solutions.

THE GENESIS
 Observers said the onset of Ramadan, which annually comes ten odd days early against the Gregorian calendar, this time amid scorching heat, prompted the Masjid Intizaamiyaas to go for air conditioning.
 “It’s after some three and half decades that Ramadan has come during summers. So given the improvement in facilities with changing times, those who can afford are going for the costly cooling,” said Nasir Mirza, a Guru at Kashmir University.
 “Kashmiris are known for such endeavours. In the past people would keep a lantern in Masjid even if they didn’t have resources to lit lamps at their own houses,” he added.

MIXED REACTION
 Observers have a mixed reaction. Senior bureaucrat, Khawaja Farooq RenzuShah, who for quite sometime has been frequently attending Masjid and shrine functions, links the air-conditioning with modernization.
 “Masjids across the world have such facilities but what needs to be looked into is the funding. If it (AC installation) is being done though collection of door-to-door donation then it’s not required. But if some localities are doing it out of affluency then its OK,” he said.
 “However,” RenzuShah said “preference should be given for funding facilities like libraries so that Masjids become epitome of knowledge.”
 Former Director General Tourism and expert on heritage, Muhammad Saleem Beg, on the other hand opines that there’s no need of AC’s in a cold place like Kashmir where summer is short-lived.
 “AC is OK but it doesn’t go with the climate. It’s only the show of affluency of people…Will they need it for more than a month?” he argued.  
 Prominent medico and online editor of Islamic blogging websites, Dr Fiaz Fazili said Masjids in Kashmir are almost empty most of the times. “Will the installation of ACs make it houseful?” he asked.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 7 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST