The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Despite the absence of a modification order from the Jammu & Kashmir Government's General Administration Department or administrative secretaries of other departments, government employees in Jammu & Kashmir have returned to duty amid confusion over the Eid holiday.

While banks remained closed on Thursday following a directive from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), reports indicate that chaos ensued over the holiday as Jammu & Kashmir celebrated Eid on Wednesday, in contrast to the rest of the country, which observed it on Thursday.

The confusion stemmed from Jammu & Kashmir, along with Ladakh Union Territory, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, celebrating Eid on Wednesday, while the rest of the nation observed it on Thursday.

Traditionally, state and union territory governments issue separate orders when festivals like Eid are celebrated on different dates across the country. However, the Jammu & Kashmir Government did not follow this precedent, opting not to issue any modification order or clarification.

Although Ladakh UT Administration and J&K High Court issued separate orders declaring Eid holiday for Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, the Jammu & Kashmir Government and Jammu & Kashmir Bank remained silent on the matter.

Internal communications from drawing and disbursing officers instructed employees to return to duty on Thursday despite confusion over the holiday. The officers assured employees that the Smart Attendance app would be updated to reflect Wednesday as a holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr.

Interestingly, non-Muslim government employees are granted 3-4 days of mass casual leave for Puja holidays. This time, Kashmiri Pandit government employees are availing four days of mass casual leave in connection with the Navratra festival celebrated earlier this week.

SRINAGAR — Amidst the Eid-ul-Fitr festivities, the valley has witnessed a surge in road accidents, as during the last 24 hours, over 60 per cent of cases admitted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar were attributed to road accidents.

Renowned Doctor, Prof. Dr Iqbal Saleem, has voiced his concern over the growing number of accidents during festive periods.

According to the news agency KNO, Dr Saleem stressed the importance of safety measures, particularly for the younger populace. He urged them to prioritize their safety by adhering to traffic regulations and wearing helmets.

Dr Saleem underscored the significance of responsible driving behaviour, especially during celebratory occasions like Eid.

"A word of advice for my young friends. Idd is a day of celebrations. However, we see an increased number of road traffic accidents during this time. Please wear helmets and drive as per the rules. Your life and well-being are precious for your parents as well as the society. God bless," he remarked in a post on X.

In another post on X, Dr Saleem revealed that the surgery department at SMHS Hospital had attended to 1155 patients within the last day, with 56 requiring admission. Among these cases, a significant portion comprised victims of road accidents, reaffirming the urgent need for caution and responsible driving practices.

Meanwhile, netizens on social media have showered praises on the doctors who on the occasion of Eid rendered a 24-hour work shift.

An X user on his account while reacting to the post of Dr Saleem wrote, “Your team's selfless service along services of all doctors on the Eid day and commitment to patient care is truly commendable and makes a significant difference in people's lives. Thank you for your selflessness and sacrifices.”

PULWAMA — As Kashmir celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, the people of Batpora Rajpora in southern Pulwama district found themselves in the midst of a pressing issue - a severe water shortage persisting for the past 10 days, even on this holy occasion.

Local residents voiced their frustration, stating that despite repeated attempts to reach the Junior Engineer (JE) responsible for water supply, their calls remained unanswered. The antiquated water infrastructure, installed some 70 years ago, has not seen any significant maintenance or upgrades since its inception, leaving the community in a precarious situation.

"Our pleas for assistance have fallen on deaf ears, leaving us without drinking water, even on this significant day of Eid-ul-Fitr," lamented a resident, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Seeking intervention, residents have turned to the District Commissioner (DC) of Pulwama, urging swift action to address the water crisis plaguing their locality.

In a demonstration of their plight, residents staged a protest on Wednesday, coinciding with Eid-ul-Fitr, underscoring the severity of their predicament and the pressing need for immediate resolution.

NEW DELHI — Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and various other states including Tamil Nadu and Kerala joined millions worldwide on Wednesday in celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the conclusion of the month-long Ramadan fasting period.

In a show of faith and unity, worshippers gathered at mosques and open prayer grounds to offer 'Namaz', or Eid prayers. In Jammu and Kashmir, morning prayers marked the start of Eid celebrations, with communities coming together to observe the holy festival.

In Coimbatore, hundreds congregated for mass prayer ceremonies, while similar scenes unfolded in Kerala's Ernakulam district and Thiruvananthapuram, where large numbers participated in prayers.

The festive spirit extended beyond prayer as markets bustled with activity, with people flocking to buy traditional sweets and delicacies for the occasion. Shopkeepers reported high demand for treats such as gulab jamun, rasgulla, and seviyan, along with a variety of savoury snacks.

Despite the shared joy, regional differences in the sighting of the crescent moon led to varying observations of Eid-ul-Fitr. While Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, confirmed celebrations for Wednesday after moon sighting on April 9, other regions like Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Delhi opted to celebrate on April 11 due to the absence of moon sighting.

Eid-ul-Fitr holds profound significance in the Islamic calendar, signifying the end of Ramadan fasting and the beginning of Shawwal. The observance of the moon-sighting tradition underscores the cultural and spiritual significance of the festival, which also marks the start of a new Islamic year.

With rituals and grace, Muslims across India and beyond embrace Eid-ul-Fitr as a time of joy, reflection, and community solidarity.

SRINAGAR — Jammu Kashmir Employees Coordination Committee (JKECC) on Monday urged the J&K Administration for three-day special casual leave for Jammu-based Muslim employees working in the Valley to enable them to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families and sought a full day special leave for Muslim employees on the day of Arafah.

As per the news agency CNS, the President of JKECC Shah Fayaz has requested the J&K Administration to announce three-day special leave for Jammu-based Muslim employees, who are working in the Valley so that they could celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in their homes along with families.

Fayaz has also requested a full day of special leave for all Muslim employees on the Arafah, a day before Eid for preparations.

“I request LG Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary Atul Duloo and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to kindly have a considerate view of demands and issue necessary orders in this regard,” President JKECC said.

He said that the majority of the concerned employees are either heads of their families or the lone-earning souls of their families.

“So, it is requested on humanitarian grounds that such employees may kindly be given relief in terms of three days of special casual leave on the special occasion of Eid ul Fitr. It will be a favour for which the JKECC would be highly indebted to higher-ups and hopefully, the submission may be considered and orders be issued in this regard as soon as possible,” said Shah Fayaz.

SRINAGAR — In a move aimed at ensuring clarity and consensus on the sighting of the upcoming Holy Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr crescent in Jammu and Kashmir, a prominent scholarly committee has been established under the leadership of Grand Mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi.

The committee, spearheaded by Mufti Farooqi and comprising notable religious figures including Mirwaiz Kashmir Moulvi Umar Farooq, will evaluate the credibility of witnesses reporting crescent sightings across the region, as confirmed by a communiqué obtained by The Kashmir Pulse.

The decision to form this committee comes in the wake of last year's reported discrepancies in crescent sightings during Ramadan, aiming to mitigate confusion among the populace. Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi clarified that the committee was exclusively constituted by the Muslim Personal Law Board, dismissing rumours of involvement from other quarters.

The committee's members, spread across various districts of Jammu and Kashmir, will remain in constant communication to swiftly report any crescent sightings to Mufti Farooqi or designated committee members. Once witnesses come forward, the scholars will meticulously assess their reliability before making an official announcement.

A long list of committee members from different regions, including Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Jammu, Pulwama, Shopian, Samba, Kathua, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, and Leh/Ladakh, underscores the broad representation and concerted effort to ensure a thorough evaluation process.

BUDGAM — On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, a young man from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district allegedly hung himself to death.

Police sources told news agency Kashmir News Trust that a 25-year old youth was found hanging in his room at his native village of Chek Raithan area of Khansahab Division.

Prima facie it seems a case of suicide.

Police have handed over the body of the deceased (name withheld) son of Farooq Ahmed Wani to the family after the completion of all legal-medico formalities and have registered a case in this regard.

SRINAGAR — People from all walks of life are thronging the city markets, malls and traditional bazaars to complete their shopping ahead of the festive occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

While readymade and footwear showrooms witnessed customers, especially females, in large numbers, shoppers beelined mutton shops and bakery outlets as well. Popular markets such as Maharaja Bazar, Goni Khan, Batamaloo, Lal Chowk in uptown Srinagar and Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta Jamia Market in the Downtown witnessed huge rush of people.

Amid huge rush, shoppers complained of overpricing of goods, especially food items. They said authorities were not monitoring prices or taking action against profiteers. "Instead of providing festive discounts, shopkeepers are indulging in open loot and authorities are giving them a free hand," said Hilal Ahmad, a shopper.

While people made purchases from showrooms in the city-centre markets of the summer capital, vendors who had set up their kiosks on arterial roads such as between TRC Junction to Hari Singh High Street and even Batamaloo did brisk business.

Purchase of home furnishing and home decoration products ahead of forthcoming Eid is also a common sight. "Products such as dry fruit bowls, paintings, wall art, flower vases are among the popular goods," said a vendor Nazir Ahmad.

Ahead of Eid, furnishing shops are also witnessing considerable footfall. "Since there is a drop in sales during Ramadhan, a boom in purchase of home furnishing is witnessed just ahead of Eid every year," said the owner of a furnishing showroom.

Meanwhile, a popular selling product ahead of Eid is mobile phones, especially touch screen smartphones.

However, the paucity of parking spaces, with hordes of beggars chasing anyone alighting from cars and rickshaws made the otherwise pleasant shopping experience a bit tiresome, especially for men who were accompanying their better halves.