Jumat-ul-Vida, last Friday of Ramzan, celebrated with religious fervor, gaiety

Srinagar, May 31: Lakhs of people on Friday joined Jumat-ul-Vida, last Friday of Holy month of Ramzan, prayers in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti greeted people on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida.

People, including women and children, throng religious places since this morning to participate in the Friday prayers. The main congregations were held at Hazratbal, which houses the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad, on the banks of Dal Lake and historic Jamia Masjid this afternoon.

Lakhs of people, who had come from different parts of the Valley and outside, joined the prayers at Hazratbal where main prayers were held. Hundreds of vendors had set up stall, selling eatables, cloths and other items outside the shirne. However, the number of beggars this time was also high.

Lakhs of people also joined the Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at historic Jamia Masjid, where no Friday prayers were allowed for the last two successive weeks due to security reasons.

Similar Jumat-ul-Vida prayers were also held at the shrine of Hazrat Mehboob-ul-Aalam, Syed Sahib Sonawar, Sheikh Dawood, Jehab Sahib Soura, Shehree Kalashpora, Dastigeer Sahib shrine at Khanyar and Saria Bala, Sheikh Nooruddin Wali and Hazrat Baba Reshi.

Reports of Jumat-ul-Vida celebrations were also received from other parts of the Kashmir valley, Leh, Kargil and Drass in Ladakh region.