Hazratbal shrine Head priest dies after brief illness

SRINAGAR: The Head priest of Asar-e-Sharief Hazratbal shrine, Ghulam Hassan Banday, passed away on Sunday after a brief illness.

The eighty-year-old Banday, son of late Nizam-ud-din Banday was one of the custodians of the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (Sallalahu Alahi Wasalam) at the revered shrine.

Banday according to family was ailing for some time and passed away at around 2 pm.

“Banday displayed holy relic on many important occasions at the shrine and was also part of the group involved in the recitation of special supplications on important occasions that include Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi,” an official spokesman of the state government said.

His funeral prayers were held later this evening, he added.

Banday's death has been condoled by various religious, political and social organisations.
Advisor to the Governor and Chairman, J&K Wakf Board, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, condoled the demise of Banday.

In his condolence message, Ganai paid rich tributes to the deceased who displayed the holy relic of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) for many years at the holy Dargah. The Chairman Wakf Board expressed his heart-felt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed for jannat-ul-firdous to the department soul.

Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti also condoled the death.

Expressing profound grief over the demise, Abdullahs said that the deceased was a pious person and that his earnest services to the shrine will be remembered for all the times to come.
The duo prayed for peace to the soul of the deceased and strength to the grief-stricken family to bear the inconsolable loss.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti in her condolence message, hailed dedication with which Late Ghulam Hassan Banday served the Hazratbal shrine while carrying forward the legacy of his forefathers. She termed him a pious and noble soul.

“We mourn the sad demise of one of the most notable religious scholars of Kashmir who earnestly served one of the sacred places of the state. As I express my sincere condolences to his family, I express my full confidence that Late Banday’s children will carry forward his great legacy,” Mehbooba said.