Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Aug 16: A nine-member foreign tourist group from Poland while exploring the beauty and spirituality of Srinagar city Wednesday said that the spiritual atmosphere at mosques and shrines of the city is soothing and gives a solace to every visitor.
While showering praises on the great architecture of Jamia Masjid Srinagar and other major shrines, the group said they felt peace and were mesmerized by the beauty and wood work and other craft at mosques and shrines of Srinagar.
“We are on a week’s visit to India and will be spending two days in Kashmir,” said Ellic, a group member, who is a nature lover, said during the group’s visit to historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, Srinagar. “We are nine members and have visited Jamia Masjid Srinagar and a few important shrines of the city. We felt quite mesmerised by the great art of the grand masjid of Kashmir and while visiting the shrines including Hazrat Sultan-ul-Arifeen (RA) at Hari Parbat, we felt a unique and soothing atmosphere there.”
He said the spiritual atmosphere especially during their visit to Jamia Masjid and other shrines was quite awesome. “Seeing people praying, crying and seeking blessings from God moved us all. Shrines here are beautiful and give solace to every visitor,” said Ellic. He said in Srinagar there are so many shrines of sufi saints. “Even though the weather is a bit hotter than Poland, we are feeling happy and comfortable here. The shrine at Hari Parbat gives a breathtaking view of the entire Srinagar city. There is great art, wood work and Kashmiri craft used in almost all shrines which we don’t have in Poland.”
Praising the tall minarets of Jamia Masjid, Ellic said that it’s a decade’s old marvel and needs to be preserved. “Mighty pillars and calligraphy inside the masjid are unique and beautiful. We feel touched. We also feel lucky to be here. God gave us a chance to explore the mosques and shrines of Srinagar,” he said.
Another group member said that since their country is close to Ukraine, they were observing developments there closely post Ukraine-Russia war. “In Srinagar, we felt a lot of noise of vehicles moving around, but peace prevailing in the air and on ground makes one feel comfortable,” he said.
All the nine-members of the group while terming the greenery of Srinagar a nature’s gift called for preserving the beauty of the City.
Pertinently, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha in his Independence Day speech yesterday (August 15 ) at Bakshi Stadium stated that this year 59 per cent increase was seen in the foreign tourist arrivals while as negative travel advisories imposed on J&K by some foreign countries will go away soon.
