Srinagar, June 24: Thousands of Shia mourners on Wednesday took part in the traditional 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar amid elaborate security arrangements, marking the fourth consecutive year that the historic Guru Bazar-Dalgate route has been allowed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
The procession began from Guru Bazar and moved through Jahangir Chowk and Maulana Azad Road towards Dalgate, with devotees reciting marsiyas and nohas in remembrance of Imam Hussain and the martyrs of Karbala. Dressed largely in black, mourners carried religious banners and paid tributes to Imam Hussain’s sacrifice.
Authorities deployed a multi-layer security grid, including police, central armed police forces, traffic personnel and drone surveillance, to ensure the peaceful conduct of the procession. Traffic movement along the route was suspended to facilitate the smooth passage of participants.
Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Sundeep Chakravarthy, said all arrangements had been meticulously planned and appealed for public cooperation to ensure the procession concluded peacefully and with dignity.
Officials from the civil administration, police personnel and volunteers distributed water and provided assistance to participants at various points along the route.
The traditional procession had remained suspended for more than three decades following the outbreak of militancy in the early 1990s before being revived in 2023. Authorities have also announced comprehensive arrangements for the 10th Muharram procession later this week.
