Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadhan, was observed with reverence, devotion and religious fervour in Kashmir.
Historic Jamia Masjid in Downtown here marked the largest congregation of the devotees on Friday prayers. The second biggest gathering was seen at Hazratbal Shrine which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Thousands of devotees assembled at the shrine to join the Friday prayers.
At Jamia Masjid, Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq delivered the Friday sermon underlining the importance Jumat-ul-Vida. He also spoke in detail about the significance of the holy month of Ramadhan and urged the Muslims to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with austerity.
The J&K Wakf Board, which controls the Dargah Hazratbal management, had made arrangements for the devotees who thronged the shrine since early morning.
Large congregations were also witnessed at all Masjids and shrines in Srinagar including Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahlehadith, Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif, Janab Sahib Soura; Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib, Khanqah-e-Mualla, and different Imambaras.
In south Kashmir, people in large numbers offered Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahlihadith, Bait-ul-Muqaram and Rehat-Ded Masjid in Islamabad (Anantnag) town. Congregational prayers were also offered in Ziarat-e-Sharief Khiram Kabamarg; Kund, Aishmuqam, Khiram, Jamia Masjid Bijbehara, Baba Naseem-u-Din Ghazi Shrine Bijbehara areas of the district.
In Kulgam, the biggest prayer gathering was seen in Jamia Masjid. Large gathering of faithful was also witnessed in Khankah, Jamia Masjid Shopian and Jamia Masjid Pulwama, Khankah-e-Faizpaneh Tral, Mir Syed Hamdani Shrine Tral, Awantipora Shrine.
Similar reports were received from other districts including those in north Kashmir.