Mehraj-ul-Alam celebrated with religious fervor in Valley

SRINAGAR — Despite rains and a drop in temperature, thousands of devotees on Tuesday thronged shrines and Masjids across Kashmir Valley for special prayers on Mehraj-ul-Alam, the night when Prophet Mohammad (SAW) made the journey across the skies.

The biggest congregation was held at Dargah Hazratbal here where thousands of devotees including men, women and children converged to have a glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) after five-time prayers. Authorities allowed the night-long prayers last year due to a decline in COVID-19 cases.

The local administration had made special arrangements and traffic was manned to ensure smooth movement.

Similar congregational prayers were held in many other shrines in the valley including Jinab Sahib Soura, Aasar-i-Sharief Shahri Kailshpora, Aasar-i-Sharief Lal Bazar, Khanqah-e-Mualla, Ziyarat Syed Saib Sonwar and Ziyarat Makdoom Sahib.

National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah also offered Asar congregational prayers at Asar-e-Sharief Dargah Hazratbal, following which he also witnessed the sighting of the sacred Moi-i-Muqadas of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). On the occasion, Dr Farooq prayed for lasting peace, and prosperity in J&K, Ladakh.

Earlier, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and his Advisors, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Farooq Khan extended their warm greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the auspicious occasions Shab-e-Miraj.

In their felicitation message, they hoped that this auspicious occasion will promote love and affection among humankind and also foster communal harmony, for which J&K is known. They also prayed for the peace, progress and prosperity of the entire Jammu and Kashmir.