In the past when people in down town Srinagar used to return to their homes on Friday evenings, most of them would share with their families the sermons at the mosques and the work they did during the day.
But now they talk about protests, subsequent stone pelting, killings and injuries to people. Hardly a Friday passes when the civilians do not get killed or injured in police firing incidents during protests. On almost every Friday one or the other family gets affected. Their members get either killed or injured. The latest victim is the teenaged student Arif, who is battling for his life in SKIMS Soura, after being critically injured in police action a Friday last month.
“Now, the first thing we talk to our families after coming home from Friday prayer is about the dead and injured. The religious discourse has taken a back seat. Every Friday brings news of killings or injuries to people”, said Muneeb, a shopkeeper.
He added that for many months he hardly had a full working day on Friday. It is either complete shut down or half day strike after the protests begin, Muneeb added.
Munaza, a house wife, said, due to fear on Fridays after the prayers she neither herself moves out nor permits the other members of her family to do so.
The pre-prayer and post-prayer time on Friday presents two different pictures in down town.
Since early mornings people make preparation for the mid-day prayers. They make sure to keep themselves free at the time of the prayer. The work at business centre and offices comes to halt at the prayer time. Since mid-day prayers are utmost important on Friday. “We leave our work for it,” Abdul Ahad, a shopkeeper said.
The muezzins at various mosques and shrines give the call for prayers. Within no time most shops and other business establishments are closed. The office work is stopped. Men flock to the mosque and shrines in groups for Friday prayers.
Having performed the ablutions, men assemble before the imam who delivers sermon which lasts for some time before starting the congregational prayers. Some women go to shrines for the prayer while some prefer offering those at home. Even some people from neighbouring rural areas come to the city to offer prayers in the shrines here. They arrive here early morning and return to their homes in the evening.
“Twice in a month, we come to Srinagar along with our family to offer the Friday prayers at Hazratbal,” reveals Aftab from Baramulla.
The sermons and Quranic verses are heard in every nook and corner of the valley till late afternoon. In rest of the Valley, after finishing the prayers the men and women get back to their work. Men who return home directly from the mosque talk about the religious teachings to the women and children of the family.
But the situation in down town takes a different turn after prayers. The protests, stone pelting and police action disrupt the normal life. The firing by police and para-military forces adds to the increasing number of dead and injured.
(The Kashmir Times)