Senior Civil and Police Officials Monitor Arrangements; Administration Urges Peace and Respectful Observance
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD): In a significant gesture of solidarity with the Shia Muslim community, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday morning visited Botakadal in Srinagar to participate in the Zuljanah procession marking Youm-e-Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram.
Clad in modest attire and accompanied by top officials, the Lieutenant Governor walked along a stretch of the procession route, distributing drinking water and refreshments to mourners participating in the day’s rituals. Before the procession commenced, he also respectfully offered a chaddar (sacred cloth) to Zuljanah — the symbolic representation of the horse of Imam Hussain (AS) — in a deeply symbolic act of reverence.
Top police and civil administration officials, including IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, SSP Srinagar, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, and other senior officers, were also present to oversee the arrangements and ensure that the procession proceeded peacefully and with due respect to religious sentiments. Security and logistical preparations had been stepped up across the city, with particular attention to crowd management, medical assistance, and traffic control.
Speaking briefly on the sidelines, LG Sinha reiterated the importance of communal harmony, stating that the legacy of Imam Hussain (AS) serves as a timeless message of sacrifice, truth, and justice. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that such deeply spiritual occasions are observed with peace and dignity,” he said.
Youm-e-Ashura, observed by Muslims worldwide, commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. His sacrifice is remembered as a symbol of standing firm against tyranny and injustice.
Across the Kashmir Valley, thousands of mourners took part in Zuljanah processions, reciting marsiyas and nohas (elegies) in remembrance of the martyrs of Karbala. The administration has appealed to the public to maintain calm, observe the sanctity of the occasion, and cooperate fully with the authorities to ensure a smooth and safe observance of Muharram.
Additional health camps, water stations, and emergency response units were deployed in procession routes throughout Srinagar to assist participants in light of the ongoing heatwave(DD)