By Shayan Shakir
The major Islamic festival of Eid Al Adha is being carried out in Indian administered Kashmir in a muted manner.
All large congregations have allegedly been banned and locals face celebratory problems as they are unable to contact family and friends due to a block in all communication lines including social media and telephones. However local residents were allowed to visit mosques to attend prayers, according to the Indian officials.
A spokesperson from the Indian home affairs stated that there were no obstacles in place for locals that could stop them from praying and that all prayers in places within Kashmir such as Anantang, Baramulla etc. were carried out peacefully and “without any untoward incident”, as reported by The Guardian.
Pictures had been released by the Indian foreign ministry which showed people visiting local mosques, but no one including a spokesperson was able to specify where exactly these pictures were taken within Jammu and Kashmir.
Dilbagh Singh, the Kashmir police chief, stated that all the people “have been asked to offer prayers locally”, indicating that according to this source residents were not allowed to leave their homes on this day.
Shanawaz Shah, a resident said: “I can’t believe we are forced to be in our homes on this festival of joy and happiness”.
Kashmir carrying out a silent Eid Al Adha
