Srinagar, Aug 17: An ocean of devotion swept through Srinagar’s Old City on Monday evening as thousands of devotees rushed towards the historic Naqshband Sahib shrine to participate in the centuries-old tradition of ‘Khoja Digar’.
From elderly devotees carrying memories of the tradition for decades to young faithful joining the congregation with their families, the gathering brought together generations of Kashmiris at Khawaja Bazar, Srinagar.
“I have been attending the prayer for decades. Earlier, I used to come with my elders, and now I come with children and grandchildren,” Mohammad Salam Dar, 70, from Habba Kadal said.
For other devotees, the annual gathering is not only a religious observance but also a way of keeping alive a tradition passed down through generations.
“It is important for us to be here and be part of this tradition. We have heard about it from our elders, and now we want the younger generation to experience it too,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, a devotee in his 30s.
The traditional prayer, observed on the third day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, is associated with Hazrat Khwaja Naqshband Sahib (RA) and the Naqshbandi spiritual order.
The shrine and adjoining streets remained packed as devotees offered Asr prayers and recited Awraad-e-Asriya, with special prayers also offered for peace, prosperity and the well-being of Jammu and Kashmir.
The congregation extended onto the Nowhatta-Khanyar road stretch, as devotees from different parts of the Valley joined the annual observance.
Authorities and shrine management had made arrangements for security and the convenience of devotees, while the huge gathering also affected traffic movement in several downtown areas.
Long queues of vehicles were reported in Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowpora, Bohri Kadal, Hawal and adjoining areas following the closure of the Khawaja Bazar road for the congregation.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who traditionally leads the Khoja Digar prayers, said he had been placed under house arrest and prevented from attending the gathering.
“Ahead of the centuries-old tradition of Khoje Digar at the shrine of Naqshband Sahib, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house arrest, barring him from delivering the traditional sermon and offering prayers at the historic shrine,” the Mirwaiz Manzil said in a post on X.
Despite his absence, thousands continued to gather at the shrine, turning the historic lanes of downtown Srinagar into a sea of prayer, faith and tradition—(KNO)
