Shab-e-Miraj celebrated with religious fervour in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 25: The Shab-e-Miraj was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region, where lakhs of people joined night-long special prayers despite cold weather condition. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, working president Omar Abdullah, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir greeted the people on the occasion.

Lakhs of people, including women and children, joined the night-long prayers in mosques, shrine, Jamia Masjid and other 'khankhas' and religious places in the Valley and Ladakh region. The main congregation was held at Hazratbal shrine on the bank of Dal Lake, which houses Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad.

Thousands of people, wearing warm and woolen cloths, including “pheran” from different parts of the Valley besides Jammu and outside the state attended the prayers at the shrine, where ulmas highlighted the importance of Shab-e-Miraj. The devotees after morning prayers ''fajr'' had glimpse of the Holy Relic before leaving for their homes. According to management of the shrine, devotees will have the glimpse of the Holy Relic after prayers during the day. The process will continue tomorrow also, they said. Hundreds of vendors have set up their stalls selling their products around the shrine. The authorities had also established medical and other camps near the shrine, where adequate power and water supply had been made.

The traffic department had also announced traffic routes to reach the shrine from different parts of the Valley to avoid any traffic jam. Similar prayers were also organised at different shrine and holy places, including Jenab Sahib Soura, Shahre Kalashpora, Pinjoora, Kabamarg and Aham Sharief. In Leh and Kargil, besides Drass, people joined night-long prayers in local mosques and other religious places.