Jammu, 25 June (H.S.): Amid tightened security thousands of Shia Muslim mourners participated in a Muharram procession in Srinagar today to mark the eighth day of mourning of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in the battle of Karbala.

The procession followed the traditional Guru Bazar-Dalgate route after the administration permitted it for the fourth consecutive year. Authorities lifted a nearly three-decade ban three years ago that had been imposed in 1990 for security concerns.

A large number of mourners took part in the procession, which began at Guru Bazar and concluded at Dalgate. Dressed in black and carrying traditional flags bearing the name of Imam Hussain (AS), thousands of mourners assembled at Guru Bazar in the old city at around 5:30 a.m. Beating their chests rhythmically and reciting elegies, the mourners marched through Jahangir Chowk and Maulana Azad Road before concluding the procession at Dalgate.

Authorities had imposed restrictions on the movement of the traffic along the procession route including the city centre Lal Chowk area that paralysed normal life in the city. Huge traffic jams were witnessed in the city due to the procession.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar