Srinagar, Aug 17: Thousands of devotees gathered at the Hazrat Naqshband Sahib (RA) Shrine in Khwaja Bazar area of Old City’s Nowhatta locality here on Monday afternoon to offer the annual ‘Khoja Digar’, filling the historic Shehr-e-Khaas with an atmosphere of faith and devotion.
In the congested roads, the traffic was suspended for hours to ensure smooth prayers in the old city as the people from different walks of life flooded the Shrine as well as the roads to offer the special prayers.
The men, women and children from across the Valley thronged the Shrine, who spread their prayer mats and waited patiently to participate in the centuries-old ritual.
The sermon started at 4:00 pm while the congregational Asr prayers were offered at 5:30 pm at the historic Astaani Aaliya.
Many of the devotees, who were seen offering prayers on this day, have never missed the special prayers on the occasion.
Abdul Raheem Dar, who hails from the Beerwah area of Budgam district, said he has never missed the ‘Khoja Digar’ at the shrine.
Sharing his childhood memories, Raheem said his father used to bring him to the shrine decades ago. “My father and I have joined the prayers for years together. But since he left this world in 2010, I have been visiting the shrine all alone to rejuvenate my childhood memories and pray for my deceased father on this occasion especially,” Dar said.
He added that this occasion not only brings back his childhood memories but also gives him peace by joining thousands of people to offer the prayers.
Like him, hundreds of devotees from different parts of life always join the Muslim community here at the Shrine to offer the special prayers.
Similarly, dozens of street vendors had opened their temporary shops to sell local food and delicacies like Halwa-Paratha, Mounje Goole, Pakoras and other things. These added to the charm on the roads along the Shrine.
Meanwhile, the administration had made adequate arrangements for the prayers.
The traffic diversion was planned, and tight security arrangements were put in place to ensure the special prayers were offered peacefully.
