Thousands of Shia Muslim mourners in Srinagar held a massive procession on the 8th of Muharram to honor the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain, Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, in the historic Battle of Karbala, Iraq. This event marked the first time in 34 years, since August 1988, that the authorities permitted the 8th of Muharram mourning procession on its traditional route, thanks to the instructions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after consultation with the Government of India.
The procession, which covered a distance of 3 kilometers, began from Gurubazar, near the Civil Secretariat, and passed through Jehangir Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Central Telegraph Office, and Maulana Azad Road before concluding at Dalgate, a popular tourist destination.
Participants donned black outfits and carried flags and standards as symbols of remembrance for the martyrs of Karbala. They recited tributes to Imam Hussain and his companions throughout the journey. Although the authorities initially set a time limit from 6:00 am to 8:00 am for the procession, they later extended it to 11:00 am, allowing it to conclude peacefully.
Before 1988, the procession used to start at Gurubazar at 2:00 pm and end at Dalgate at 10:00 pm, following a different route. However, the route was subsequently changed to Gurubazar-Dalgate via MA Road in the early 20th century, after the Maharaja issued a license for the procession to Haji Kulu of Gurubazar, the founder of Yaadgar-e-Hussaini Committee.
From 1988 to 2022, no procession took place on the 8th of Muharram, and the 10th of Muharram (Ashura) procession also had its route changed to Lalbazar-Zadibal with fewer participants and a shorter distance of 3 km to Imambara Zadibal.
During this period, authorities often imposed curfew and denied permission for the processions due to security concerns and fears that they might be used to promote separatist political agendas. Separatists and militants would sometimes join splinter Shia mourner groups, attempting to take out the 8th of Muharram procession. The resulting confrontations led to photo ops that painted the Government of India as suppressive of religious practices and rituals of Muslims in Kashmir.
However, this year, the authorities granted permission for the 8th of Muharram procession to the “Yaadgar-e-Hussaini Committee Gurubazar,” albeit with a curtailed timing, to prevent any potential propaganda by separatists. The organisers cooperated fully with the authorities, ensuring there were no political slogans, banners, or demonstrations during the event.
While the 8th and the 10th of Muharram processions remained banned on their traditional routes in Srinagar since 1989, other Muharram processions continued across the city and the entire Kashmir valley over the past 34 years. These processions attract thousands of mourners who participate while reciting marsiya and noha in praise of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions.
