Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Sep 16: Thousands of devotees thronged Hazratbal shrine on the beautiful bank of Srinagar’s Dal Lake to mark the eve of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) in a nightlong prayer congregation.
The air was filled with reverence as the faithful gathered there, believing the night would bring divine blessings upon them.
According to reports, as evening approached and night began, devotees started to gather at Hazratbal Srinagar for a nightlong congregation of prayers.
At the shrine, the devotees raised their hands together on this auspicious night as the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was being commemorated, gathered in the lawn of the historic Hazratbal shrine.
Abdul Rashid, one of the devotees from Sopore, said, “As we pray here at Hazratbal, I can feel the mercy and blessings of Allah raining down on us. It is like all my wishes have been fulfilled, and I feel complete.”
“We come here every year, but tonight it feels different. There is a powerful sense of connection to the Prophet and to each other,” said Feroza Begum, who travelled from Budgam.
Another devotee from Khanyar Srinagar said, “This night is more than tradition; it is faith. Standing here and praying, it feels as if the air is filled with blessings,” said Mohammad Yousuf.
Meanwhile, officials from Hazratbal Srinagar said all arrangements had been made by the administration for the huge congregation.
“We have made all necessary preparations to ensure the safety and comfort of the devotees attending Hazratbal,” said an official from the Hazratbal administration.
He added that from sanitation to traffic management, everything has been fully arranged to allow the devotees to focus on their prayers and experience the spiritual blessings of this holy night.
As the nightlong prayers ended and the Azaan at Hazratbal continued with the first rays of dawn, the holy relic is to be displayed.