Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Sep 3: The historic Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar was officially inaugurated on Wednesday following months-long Mega Construction and Beautification Project led by the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, officials said.
Chairperson of the Waqf Board, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, inaugurated the project.
Dr. Andrabi was accompanied by other Waqf Board members and prominent religious scholars, including Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami and Maulana Mohammad Ashraf.
The extensive renovation, initiated last year, included rebuilding and plastering the inner structure using local heritage crafts, installing a modern digital electrical system, air-conditioning, advanced sound and CCTV systems, and enhancing interiors with gold carvings, Katamband, papier-mache, pinjrakari, calligraphy and glass art.
Chandeliers engraved with Quranic verses and a redesigned Noor-Khana further add to the shrine’s grandeur.
Dr. Andrabi, who supervised the works, described the project as her “dream initiative” and said it was a blessing to inaugurate it ahead of Milad celebrations.
“This state-of-the-art project has made Hazratbal the most beautiful shrine in the country and the region,” she said, thanking everyone associated with the project, including the administration and the public, for their cooperation.
A documentary on the mega project was also screened for visitors during a small function outside the shrine.
Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, tweeting on X, congratulated Dr. Andrabi and the J&K Waqf Board. He wrote: “Congratulations to Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi & J&K Waqf Board for leading the historic renovation of Hazratbal Dargah.
It reads, after 1968, this is the first major interior transformation of the shrine. The new design blends modernity with the traditional artistry of Kashmir. A proud cultural milestone for J&K’s spiritual heritage. Grateful to PM Shri @narendramodi ji & HM Shri @AmitShah ji for their vision & support,” Rijiju who is India’s Minister of Minority Affairs shared on X.
It is worth mentioning that the Hazratbal Shrine, which attracts thousands of devotees from across Jammu and Kashmir and beyond, now stands as a renewed symbol of spiritual and cultural heritage.
