Srinagar, Mar 04: The historic Jamia Masjid was thrown open for devotees today on the occasion of Friday following Meraj-e-Alam, Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid said.
The Friday sermon was given by Imam Hai Syed Ahmed Naqshbandi as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to remain under house detention.
The Anjuman Auqaf said that today Friday prayers were held at the Jamia Masjid after a gap of 30 weeks and all arrangements were made in advance.
“People in large numbers came to the Masjid and there was a huge gathering today in view of Meraj-e-Alam,” a member of Ajumane Auqaf told news agency KNO.
Ghulam Qadir Rather, a devotee said that it is after a long gap that he came to the grand Masjid to offer Friday prayers.
“Over these years, the closure of central masjid hurt our religious sentiments badly,” he said, adding that unfortunately he couldn’t see Kashmir’s head priest Mirwiaz Umar Farooq on the pulpit of Jamia Masjid today.
Mirwaiz has been under house detention since August 5, 2019, when Centre abrogated the Article 370.
Emotional scenes were witnessed at the Masjid as a large number of devotees were seen kissing the pillars of the grand mosque. “This is the place where our prayers get heard,” an elderly woman said amid tears.