Srinagar, February 20: The air at Jamia Masjid Srinagar was fresh, charged with devotion and reverence, as thousands of worshipers flocked to the centuries-old mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan, transforming its courtyard into a sea of faith.
Amid soft whispers of prayer, the brightness of mobile screens flickered as many followed the Quranic recitations digitally, mixing tradition with modernity.
Kashmir’s top religious cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, led the prayers, his voice rising and falling intensely, calling for reflection, compassion and unity during these holy days.
“Ramadan is not just a ritual, but it is the purification of the soul, a call to goodness and a time to reconnect with Allah. May every prayer, whether read on paper or on a screen, awaken the heart,” Mirwaiz said, as reported by news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Among the crowd, emotions were running high. Tears rolled down cheeks, hands clenched in prayer and a whisper of hope mixed with the solemn rhythm of the azaan.
“I felt a wave of peace as I recited the Quran from my phone, but I felt surrounded by the collective heartbeat of thousands of believers,” said Arsalan Rather, a young devotee.
Families, elderly people and children moved around the mosque’s wide courtyard, some holding rosaries, others silently absorbed in prayer.
“Being here at Jamia Masjid today, surrounded by so many people praying, I felt a deep sense of peace and connection with Allah,” said Sahil, another devotee.
Security staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to maintain order, but the overwhelming feeling of devotion was palpable.
For many, this First Friday was not just the beginning of Ramadan, but a reminder that spirituality, in all its forms, can flourish even in a modern world.
