Srinagar’s Muharram Procession Returns with Pro-Palestinian Sentiment After Decades
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/16th July 2024
On Monday, thousands of Shia mourners marched through the heart of Srinagar, marking the eighth day of Muharram while raising pro-Palestinian slogans. This traditional procession, spanning from Guru Bazar to Dalgate, had been banned since 1989 due to the armed conflict in the Valley, but the ban was lifted in 2023 after numerous meetings and conditions set by the administration and community leaders.
The administration implemented extensive security measures, deploying forces along the route to ensure the procession remained incident-free. Beginning at 6 a.m. from Guru Bazar, the 4.5-kilometer march proceeded along Maulana Azad Road, concluding peacefully at Dalgate. Participants carried pro-Palestinian flags, wore black bands, and sported Palestinian badges on their arms and chests. The administration had instructed the Shia community to hold the procession between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. and to avoid any anti-national slogans.
“This month teaches us to be ready to sacrifice for the truth and stand by the oppressed… Palestinians are our brothers and this is just a token of solidarity from this corner of the world,” said Fida Hussain, one of the mourners. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is a time when Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali (RA) and his followers, who were killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Shia communities worldwide commemorate this event with processions, culminating on the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura.
In Kashmir, traditional processions on the 8th and 10th of Muharram had been banned since 1989 due to concerns about anti-government protests and potential law and order issues. This year’s 8th Muharram procession was monitored by high-ranking officials, including Inspector General of Police in Kashmir V K Birdi and Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar Bilal Mohiuddin. These officials interacted with mourners and distributed water bottles.
The Shia community is now eagerly awaiting official permission for the Ashura procession on the 10th of Muharram, which falls on July 17. “We expect that the administration will give the permission for the procession on the day of Ashura as well,” said a community leader.
The lifting of the ban and the peaceful execution of this year’s 8th Muharram procession symbolize a significant step toward religious freedom and communal harmony in the region. The administration’s careful coordination and the community’s adherence to guidelines have set a positive precedent, with hopes high for the forthcoming Ashura procession.
