Ishtiyaq Ahmed
Srinagar, April 23: This is for the first time that Kashmiris will be observing, the revered month of fasting in their own homes in the past over a hundred years.
Even though the lockdown is till May 3 and it’s not clear whether there would be an extension or not, but social distancing seems to be becoming a new norm now.
Officials in the administration told news agency that social distancing has to be maintained for the months ahead and the precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will remain for long.
However, elderly people in Kashmir assert that they have heard from their fathers and grandfathers that since the Cholera pandemic in early 19th century, this is for the first time that people of Kashmir will be offering prayers in the fasting month of Ramadhan in their own homes.
“I have heard from my father that Cholera pandemic had spread in Kashmir during the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh and people then offered special prayers at Hazratbal shrine after pandemic faded away,” said Abdur Razak Dar, a resident of Harwan.
Razak, 80, said that in his entire life, he has never prayed at his home during the fasting month of Ramadhan. “The feeling of praying every prayer at home is irritating. It’s the month of blessing peace and seeking repentance and we will be locked in our homes and even have to prayer there only,” Razak told KINS.
He said that Allah is definitely annoyed with the people across the globe and with those living in Kashmir too.
For poet Zareef Ahmed Zareef, it’s so unfortunate for the people of Kashmir to pray at homes in the holy and sacred month. “When Cholera hit Kashmir in the early 19th century, there was huge charity given away by the people and mass repentance prayers were held. Massive prayers were held at Hazratbal where people showered praises at the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) amid moist eyes.
It was the occasion of Milad un Nabi (SAW), the birth anniversary of Prophet (SAW), and Allah heard the prayers and took away the pandemic,” he said. “But I have heard from my father and his father, that even during such tough times, prayers were held in masjids, and big gatherings used to take place amid massive Charity drives.”
For Ghulam Qadir Rather, a resident of Pantha Chowk, he has never seen prayers been offered in homes during the fasting month of Ramadhan. “I am touching 80’s, but have never seen people being asked to offer prayers at home. When there is a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds and if someone defies it, police act swiftly, there is no question of going to masjids in fasting month. But for me, this is for the first time in my life that Kashmiri people will be offering prayers and Taraweeh in their homes,” said Rather.(KINS)
