No Eid prayers at Eidgah, Jama Masjid in Srinagar for 8th year in a row

Srinagar: Authorities in Srinagar have once again refused permission for Eid prayers at the historic Eidgah ground and Jama Masjid in the old city, marking the eighth consecutive year of such restrictions.

The decision comes amid continued security and administrative controls around major religious gatherings in the region, with access to key prayer sites being restricted during Eid celebrations.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq says he was placed under house arrest

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said he was placed under house arrest on the day of Eid and was not allowed to move out for prayers.

Taking to X, he stated that Muslims in Kashmir had been repeatedly denied the opportunity to offer Eid prayers at the two historic sites for eight years in a row.

He wrote that the community had been “denied the right to offer Eid prayers at the historic Eidgah/Jama Masjid” and said his own movement had been restricted through house arrest.

Claims of restrictions, barricades and locked gates

In his remarks, the Mirwaiz said that Eid celebrations in Kashmir are increasingly marked by restrictions and security controls rather than public worship.

He alleged that worshippers are met with barricades, locked gates and restrictions during what he described as a sacred and festive occasion.

“This is not governance; it is a systematic assault on our religious identity, dignity and fundamental rights which deeply hurts us,” he said.

Concern over impact on younger generation

The Mirwaiz also expressed concern about the impact of continued restrictions on children and younger generations in Kashmir.

He said many children are growing up without experiencing Eid prayers at the Eidgah, which he described as a long-standing tradition in the region.

According to him, this has prevented younger people from forming cultural and spiritual memories associated with Eid gatherings.

Assertion on faith and religious identity

He further stated that faith cannot be suppressed through force, adding that religious identity remains deeply rooted among the people of Kashmir.

“But let those in power know that no power on earth can erase the deep spiritual bond people of Kashmir share with Eidgah, Jama Masjid and their religious institutions,” he said.

This year’s developments mark the eighth straight occasion where Eid prayers were not permitted at the two major religious sites in Srinagar’s old city.

Agency inputs