Ehsan Fazili Srinagar

Amid tight security arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s J&K visit on Friday to inaugurate the much-awaited Kashmir rail link, preparations are in full swing ahead of Eid-ul-Azha celebrations, which had already begun before the beginning of the Islamic month of Zull Hijja.

The main Eid-ul-Azha congregation, offering the Eid Namaz, is being held at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, while special Eid prayers are being held across all the mosques and shrines on the occasion. This was announced by the Chairperson of J&K UT Wakf Board, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi.

She said, “All arrangements are in place as the Wakf Board has been working relentlessly on the management of the places of worship”, she said at a meeting with the members of the Board and civil administration officials.”

A Mehdi artist drawing designs on the hands of a young Kashmiri woman in Srinagar

For the smooth conduct of the celebrations, the Wakf Chairperson has “warned against uploading animal sacrifice photos and videos on social media, citing disciplinary action”.  She also urged the people to offer Qurbani (sacrifices of animals) on the occasion for proper disposal of the hides and waste parts of the animals and stressed the need to avoid throwing the waste material into the lanes and drains.

 She said that Qurbani being the core ritual of Eid-ul-Azha, the hides and other waste material be buried and not exposed.

Dr Andrabi however said although the waqf Board has made all arrangements for holding of Nazam at Eidgah in downtown Srinagar,  the decision to hold the prayers rests with the police and security forces. “The conduct of special Eid prayers at Eidgah depends upon both the decision of the Government also given weather conditions.”

Markets in Srinagar and other towns of Kashmir have been abuzz with shoppers shopping for dress materials and other merchandise over the past few weeks, while essential commodities like mutton, chicken, vegetables, bakery, and other items have been in much demand during the recent days.

Women shoppers in Srinagar's market for Eid shopping

As Eid drew closer, bakery items were in demand with bakery shops doing brisk business. The people have already started stocking mutton, chicken, milk products, bakery, and domestic LPG as the markets would remain closed at least for the next three days.

Traffic Police have also issued advisories for smooth movement of traffic and avoid congestion in the markets full of shoppers. The Srinagar Traffic Police have “started a media cell which will be a kind of interactive cell between media and Traffic Department where media persons can highlight any issue related to smooth flow of traffic in Srinagar. It will also be used to share information related to traffic management in the city”, SSP Traffic, Srinagar stated.

The streets in Srinagar for the past few weeks have been full of scenes with herds of sheep for sale as sacrificial animals. These include the Nawpora area, the center of mutton dealers and suppliers, in addition to other parts of the city.   

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Meanwhile, the Government has taken measures for the smooth conduct of the Eid celebrations which include identification and publicity of sale points for sacrificial animals, availability of essential commodities, and door-to-door collection of animal skins and waste. Advance distribution of food grains for June is underway and daily joint market inspections are being conducted to ensure quality control, price regulation, cleanliness, and fumigation in public areas, an official spokesman has stated here.