SRINAGAR: Thousands of Shia Muslims converged at Zadibal here to commemorate Yaum-e-Ashura, as traditional 10th Muharram procession in uptown Srinagar remained under a blanket ban for 28th consecutive year.
Tens of thousands of mourners joined the Zuljinah procession on Friday.
Such was the rush of mourners that Zadibal was clogged with black clad people with roads and streets chocked.
The procession which started in the morning from Gulshan Bagh concluded at the shrine of Mir Shamasudin Araki in the interiors of Zadibal, hardly two kilometers away, at around Maghrib prayers.
Mourners were seen carrying banners and chanting slogans in praise of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions who sacrificied their lives at Karbala, some 1,400 years ago aftter refusing to give oath of allegiance to tyrant Umayad ruler, Yazid.
Several volunteers groups had set up camps along the route of procession where hot and cold beverages were being served to mourners.
Meanwhile restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar on Friday to prevent traditional Ashura procession from Abi Guzar near Lal Chowk to Zadibal.
All shops and business establishments remained closed in these areas throughout the day, while traffic too was by and large off the routes.
Authorities had imposed restrictions under section 144 Cr PC in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Police Stations Nowhatta, Maharaj Gunj, Safa Kadal, Rainawari and Khanyar.
Similarly, curbs were imposed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Police Stations Sher Gari, Kothibagh and Maisuma.
With the result Jamia Masjid too remained locked and no Friday prayers were offered there.
A small group of mourners tried to break security cordon and take march from Abi Guzar. However police swung into action and detained several of them.
The two major processions of 8th and 10th Muharram were banned in 1989 by the then Governor Jagmohan after an armed rebellion broke out in Kashmir against the Indian rule. Only small mourning rallies and processions are allowed in a few areas with sizeable Shia population.
Anjuman Sharie Shiayan, which organised this years Ashura procession in Zadibal also took out a big mourning procession in Budgam. Party president Aga Syed Hasan Almosvi led the procession which emerged from Mirgund and culminated at Markazi Imambargah Budgam. Later Aga Syed Hasan led Friday congregational prayers there.
Ashura processions were also taken out across Kashmir. Ashura was observed in Kargil on Thursday.
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