Shafaqna India: For generations, one of the most prominent Muharram processions in Srinagar was the traditional 8th Muharram mourners’ jaloos from Guru Bazar to Dalgate. Thousands of mourners from across the Kashmir Valley would participate in the procession to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala.
The procession was an integral part of Kashmir’s religious and cultural heritage, with mourners reciting elegies, performing matam, and reaffirming the timeless message of truth, justice, and resistance to oppression embodied by Karbala.However, following the developments of 1990, the traditional procession was not permitted for many years. For over three decades, generations of mourners were unable to observe the jaloos along its historic route, via Budsha Kadal and its absence was deeply felt by the community.
In recent years, the authorities have once again allowed the procession to be taken out on its traditional route. Today, as mourners gathered in large numbers for the 8th Muharram jaloos from Guru Bazar to Dalgate, many saw it not only as a religious observance but also as the revival of a cherished tradition that had remained suspended for decades.
The sight of the procession moving peacefully along its historic route served as a reminder of Kashmir’s long-standing Muharram traditions and the enduring devotion of the mourners to the ideals of Imam Hussain (AS).
