SRINAGAR: Beneath a blanket of black flags and mourning banners, thousands of devotees streamed into Srinagar’s city centre at dawn on Wednesday as the traditional 8th Muharram procession began, transforming the Guru Bazar-Dalgate route into a river of mourners moving in remembrance of the martyrs of Karbala.
From Guru Bazar to Dalgate, roads wore a sombre look. Sabeels, medical camps and volunteer-run service stalls lined the route, offering water, refreshments and assistance to participants, while elegies echoed through the streets as mourners joined the procession in large numbers.
The procession commenced from Guru Bazar in the early morning hours and proceeded along the traditional route via Budshah Kadal and M.A. Road, with mourners carrying black standards and participating in commemorative rituals.
“It is not just a procession, but it is a journey of remembrance and sacrifice. People wait all year to be part of this day,” said, Tahir Ali, a mourner from central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Another participant, Mubashir Hassan said the atmosphere reflected both grief and unity. “You can see people from every corner of Kashmir here. The arrangements by volunteers and authorities have helped everything move smoothly,” he said.
As the procession advanced through the city centre, residents watched from roadside spaces, while volunteers remained busy attending to mourners and managing the service stalls set up along the route.
Officials said elaborate arrangements had been put in place for the smooth conduct of the procession, including security deployment, drone surveillance, medical facilities, traffic regulation, sanitation measures, and uninterrupted essential services.
Traffic diversions remained in force on major roads connected to the route, while designated parking facilities were made available for participants arriving from different districts and localities.
The procession was continuing peacefully when this report was filed.—(KNO)
