Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jul 15: As a heart-warming display of communal harmony, Shia and Sunni volunteers joined hands on Monday to distribute refreshments among the mourners during the traditional 8th Muharram procession, which started from Guru Bazar and culminated at Dalgate.
The procession, marked by prayers and reflections, brought together people from diverse backgrounds to honor a significant occasion with reverence and solidarity.
Amidst the crowd, a collective effort stood out as volunteers from both Shia and Sunni communities worked side by side, setting up stalls to provide refreshments under the scorching heat. Their unified presence was a testament to the shared values of compassion and unity that transcend sectarian differences.
Among the other stalls (sabeels), one such stall was installed at Dalgate Srinagar by the cricket fraternity of Dalgate, where Sunnis distributed refreshments among the mourners.
During the traditional 8th Muharram procession, a Shia mourner, Abbas Ali, who was providing water to the thirsty, said, at times like these; it’s important to come together as one community.
“Our differences fade away when we focus on serving others and showing empathy,” he said.
Fatima, another mourner, present at the Sunni stall at Dalgate Srinagar, said, “I am touched by the kindness shown by Sunni volunteers. Their presence here demonstrates that despite our differences, we stand united in times of sorrow.”
Pertinently, the J&K administration allowed the 8th Muharram procession from Guru Bazar to Dalgate for the second consecutive year, in which thousands of mourners participated.
