About 80,000 offer prayers at Hazratbal, say officials

Srinagar, Mar 13: Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan, was observed across Jammu and Kashmir as thousands of devotees thronged mosques and shrines for congregational prayers.

The largest gathering for Jumat-ul-Vida prayers took place at Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of Dal Lake. Officials said an estimated 80,000 people offered prayers there.

Among the notable persons to offer prayers at Hazratbal was former chief minister Farooq Abdullah.

While all mosques and shrines were teeming with the faithful, the prayers were not offered at the historic Jama Masjid in the Nowhatta area of the city, as the authorities shut down the place for the seventh consecutive year.

Large gatherings at Alvida prayers were reported from the district and town headquarters of the valley.

Although there is a possibility of having another Friday in this year’s fasting month, Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Nasir Ul Islam on Thursday said the Jumat-ul-Vida will be observed this week.

He said Eid ul-Fitr is likely to fall on March 20 (Friday) or March 21 (Saturday), depending on the appearance of the crescent moon. “After consulting other scholars, it was decided to observe Jumat-ul-Vida on March 13,” he said.

Consequently, the Jammu and Kashmir government announced a public holiday on Friday. An order to this effect was issued by the general administration department on Thursday.