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 permitted by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
The procession began early in the morning from Guru Bazar and passed through Jahangir Chowk and Maulana Azad Road before heading towards Dalgate. As the procession continued, mourners carrying religious banners recited marsiyas (elegies) and nohas (dirges) in remembrance of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and the martyrs of Karbala.
Dressed predominantly in black, devotees paid tribute to the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his companions while observing the solemn occasion with traditional rituals.
Authorities deployed a multi-layered security arrangement, including Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces, traffic personnel, and drone surveillance, to ensure the peaceful conduct of the procession. Traffic movement along the route was temporarily suspended to facilitate the smooth passage of mourners.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Sundeep Chakravarthy, said comprehensive security and administrative arrangements had been made from the starting point to the end of the procession. He appealed to the public to cooperate with the police and civil administration to ensure the event concluded peacefully and with dignity.
Officials from the civil administration, police personnel, and volunteers were also seen distributing drinking water and providing assistance to participants at various points along the route.
The traditional Guru Bazar–Dalgate Muharram procession had remained suspended for more than three decades after the onset of militancy in the early 1990s before being revived in 2023. Authorities have also announced extensive arrangements for the 10th Muharram procession scheduled later this week.
