Kashmir's Shab-e-Baraat Observed Amid Restrictions at Historic Mosque

Shab-e-Baraat, the night of forgiveness, was celebrated across the Kashmir valley with fervent prayers. Devotees gathered in mosques and at ancestral graves. However, the historic Jama Masjid in Nowhatta remained closed, and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest, limiting celebrations there.

In Kashmir, the night of Shab-e-Baraat saw mosques and shrines bustling with the faithful, as prayers filled the valley with a sense of devotion and reflection.

The traditional observance occurs two weeks before Ramadan, with special prayers and visits to ancestors' graves to light candles. Despite these widespread rituals, the iconic Jama Masjid at Nowhatta witnessed an unusual silence.

Authorities had shuttered the mosque and placed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest, citing security concerns. This decision impacted the historic site's usual nightlong prayers, stirring local sentiments amid the region's ongoing tensions.

(With inputs from agencies.)