In a significant development, the decision by the central government to permit the Muharram procession through its traditional route in Jammu and Kashmir was warmly received by National Conference leader, Omar Abdullah. 

The route, passing via Lal Chowk, had been inaccessible for over three decades, making this a momentous occasion. Additionally, he urged for the release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest and requested permission for prayers at Jamia Masjid.

"We genuinely welcome this decision, but we also expect further steps to be taken. It is imperative that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, as a religious leader, is released. The prayers at Jamia Masjid must not be subjected to any restrictions, and the Red prayer should be allowed at Eidgah," expressed Abdullah. "The decision to walk seemed more sensible, as I didn't want to add further inconvenience to the public," he added.

Amidst the massive traffic snarls in the city due to the early morning Muharram procession, Abdullah chose to walk from his residence on Gupkar road to his office at Nawa-i-Subah, considering the inconvenience that his security vehicles would cause to the people.

He also took the opportunity to criticize the central government for its failure to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the BJP was fearful of facing the electorate.

"The Election Commission has acknowledged the void in Jammu and Kashmir, which needs to be addressed. We proposed that if they can't conduct Assembly polls separately, they should align it with the Lok Sabha elections," he argued.

In a noteworthy development, the authorities finally granted permission for the 8th Muharram procession to traverse its traditional route after more than thirty years. The procession was permitted to proceed between 6 am to 8 am, taking the route from Shaheed Gunj to Dalgate. It is important to note that this route had been off-limits for processions due to the prevailing law and order situation since 1989.

To ensure the smooth execution of the procession and manage traffic during working hours, the Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar Bidhuri stated that the permission was specifically granted for the morning hours. The administration meticulously planned security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain a peaceful environment during the processions.

The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar led a high-level meeting earlier to discuss and coordinate the arrangements for Muharram, emphasizing crowd management and religious procession management.

The administration's diligent efforts aimed to foster a sense of tranquility and harmony while allowing the fulfillment of the long-standing request for the eighth procession to traverse its traditional route.

Islamic New Year: Date, History, and Significance of Muharram 2023