Srinagar, June 7 (UNI) Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, is being celebrated with religious fervor and traditional gaiety across Kashmir on Saturday.



The largest congregation of worshippers gathered at the iconic Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake, where thousands offered Eid prayers.

However, the spirit of the festival was somewhat marred as authorities did not allow congregational prayers at the Eidgah and the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city. The move drew sharp criticism from J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti.

Despite this, Eid spirit was visible across the Valley. Dressed in their festive best, worshippers thronged mosques and designated Eidgahs early in the morning to participate in the special prayers. The gatherings passed off peacefully, with no untoward incidents reported.

Prominent political leaders, including CM Omar Abdullah, former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were among those who offered prayers at Hazratbal, the holiest shrine in Kashmir, where the mood was both solemn and celebratory.

Soon after the Eid prayers, many families across the region performed the symbolic sacrifice of goats and sheep to commemorate the “sacrifice” of Prophet Ibrahim.

Kashmir’s homes bustled with the colors of festivity. Children, dressed in new clothes, visited relatives to seek blessings, while elders exchanged warm Eid hugs and heartfelt greetings.

“Eid-ul-Adha is about attending congregational prayer, offering sacrifices, and spending time with family and visiting relatives,” said Adil Ahmed, a Srinagar resident.



The celebrations are set to continue till Monday, with families planning visits, feasts, and charitable acts over the next two days.

Meanwhile, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid on Saturday said that authorities disallowed Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city and also put Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest.

The managing committee of the Jamia mosque affairs said the authorities once again disallowed Eid-ul-Adha prayers at Eidgah Srinagar, as well as at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, by closing the gates of the mosque and deploying police personnel outside.

Traditionally, the congregational Eid prayers are offered at Eidgah.

“Even the Fajr prayers this morning were not permitted at Jama Masjid as the gates remained locked,” the statement said, adding” Miwaiz has also been placed under house arrest.”

In a post on X, Mirwaiz, who is also the Hurriyat chairman, said it is for the seventh year in a row that Eid prayers were disallowed at Jamia. The Eid prayers have been barred at the Jama Masjid and Eidgah by the authorities since 2019.



“Eid Mubarak! Yet again, Kashmir wakes up to the sad reality: no Eid prayers at Eidgah, and Jama Masjid locked down — for the 7th straight year. I, too, have been detained at my home,” Mirwaiz said

“In a Muslim-majority region, Muslims are deprived of their fundamental right to pray —even on their most important religious occasion celebrated across the world! What a shame on those who rule over us, and on those elected by the people who choose to remain silent as our rights are trampled over, again and again,” he added.

The Lt Governor administration, which is in charge of law and order in J&K, didn’t respond to the claims made by the Anjuman.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was deeply concerned about the denial of Eid prayers at Jamia Masjid.

He questioned the authority of those making this decision.

“ I have no information on what basis such a decision is taken. But one day we will have to trust our people. They are the same people who, after the April 22 (Pahalgam terror attack) came out and expressed their anger and said they are not with the attack and condemned the act. …But today, once again, the Eid prayers were not allowed at historic Jamia …I feel that the government should think again at some point,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar.

PDP Chief Mehbooba said the locking of Jamia Masjid on Eid and house arrest of Mirwaiz is highly condemnable and is an “interference in our religious affairs.”

UNI MJR BD