SRINAGAR: The Food Safety Department of Kashmir on Thursday rebuked the claims as baseless about premature ripening of watermelons with the use of chemicals and assured that the department remains committed to maintaining stringent food safety standards.

Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Department Shugufta Jalal said that the experts, who specialise in food technology, have conducted rigorous tests across the region and that the claims of premature ripening are baseless.

She said that the tests include both surveillance and indepth analysis using advanced equipment, and the results have confirmed that the watermelons are safe for consumption.

She said that the watermelons are grown throughout the year in various parts of India due to the country’s diverse climatic conditions which makes the fruit available in all seasons, contrary to the claims that it is not a seasonal fruit.

Shagufta said that the department has been proactive with teams deployed and mobile testing vans stationed in key areas across Kashmir to conduct on the spot testing.

She criticized the oncologist for not consulting with the authorities before making public statements as such remarks have caused undue distress among the population.

“The department remains committed to maintaining stringent food safety standards and preventing misinformation from causing panic. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are dedicated to communicating transparently with the public to uphold trust and ensure the health and safety of all consumers,” she said.

The controversy erupted after a social media post by a doctor went viral, suggesting that watermelons available in the market were artificially ripened using chemicals.

The claim raised alarm among consumers, as watermelons are a staple fruit during Ramadan, often consumed during Iftar. (KNS)

SRINAGAR: The Power Development Department is mulling to improve the power curtailment schedule in holy month of Ramadan.

Besides, the department said that it will improve and reduce the power curtailment especially at Suhoor and fast breaking time (Iftar).

Chief Engineer KPDCL (Distribution) Sandeep Seth said that it was charting out the plan and mechanism to resolve the power curtailment issues for the month of Ramadhan.

“We are working on it and most likely, the new curtailment schedule will be implemented from the first day of Ramadan,” he said.

On asking about the improving power curtailment at peak hours, the Chief Engineer said, “In the month of Ramadan, the peak hours will be pre-dawn and dusk. We are mulling to improve the power curtailment especially at Sahoor and Iftar.”

Pertinently, the holy Ramadan is likely to commence from Tuesday.

In the last week of February, amid frequent power outages and distress cuts across Kashmir valley, Kashmir Power Developed Corporation Limited (KPDCL) had said that it was facing power shortage of nearly 400 Megawatts (MWs).

An official of KPDCL had said, “As of now, sufficient power is not available with us. Currently, KPDCL is reeling under shortage of electricity.”

The official said, “There is a shortage of nearly 300-400 Mega Watts. In view of the power shortage, there may be some areas in Kashmir who would be facing distress cuts and unscheduled outage.” (KNO)

SRINAGAR: Authorities have decided not to allow Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Saturday, sources said. 

They told GNS that the administration had suggested particular timing for Eid prayers at Jamia which was not agreed to by the management of the grand mosque. “As such Eid prayers will now be disallowed at Jamia tomorrow,” they said. 

Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the managing body of the historic mosque, had announced that Eid-ul-Fitr prayer will be held at 9:00 a.m. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: On the occasion of Last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, thousands of men, women and young people performed Friday prayer at the historical Jama Masjid Srinagar by prostrating themselves before the Almighty Allah, doing Tauba-Wa-Istighfaar - repenting over their sins and seeking forgiveness from their Lord.

However, the people were once again disappointed over the absence of their beloved leader Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq who is under house detention for the last nearly four years due to which the Mimbar and Mihraab of the grand mosque continue to remain silent.

On the occasion, a spokesperson of the Anjuman conveyed the Eid-ul-Fitr message of the detained Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir to the people in a huge public gathering and appealed to them to celebrate Eid with simplicity according to Islamic teachings. They were urged to remember the poor, needy, backward and disadvantaged people of society in the festivities.

The Anjuman expressed strong resentment against the continuous illegal and arbitrary detention of Mirwaiz –e-Kashmir and said the authorities should change their dictatorial attitude and release him before  Eid

On the occasion, the people raised their voices for the immediate and unconditional release of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Anjuman said that the Eid prayers  are going to be offered after three years at Jama Masjid Srinagar inshallah and according to the programme, the Eid prayer will be offered at 09:00 am, In Sha Allah.

The people were urged  to come before time and show Islamic unity and discipline on the occasion. (CNS) 

SRINAGAR: Laylat-ul-Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr - the night of power and blessings - was observed across Kashmir valley with religious fervour and gaiety on intervening Monday and Tuesday night. 

As per common belief of followers of Islam, the night, when the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Allah, is considered to be equal to praying for 1000 months. This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramzan and most likely to be the 27th of the holy month, during which Muslims spend the whole night attending the religious gatherings and praying all night till dawn.

As part of the festivities, Muslims thronged mosques and shrines across the valley for prayers and recitation of the holy Quran. 

Scores of devout Muslims, as per GNS, gathered at Hazratbal and other mosques and shrines across the valley, including at the Dast-e-Geer Sahib and Sayed Yaqoob Shah shrines here to offer special prayers.

Congregational night prayers were allowed by authorities at historic Jamia Masjid Nowhatta albeit after a hiatus of almost four years. A huge gathering was witnessed at the mosque, who remained engrossed in supplications and recitals of the holy Quran throughout the night. 

The nightlong prayers were also held at other mosques and shrines in Srinagar including at Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadith Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif Janab Sahib Soura; Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib (RA), Khanqah-e-Maula.

District administration Srinagar had put in place special arrangements while control rooms were also established at Dargah Hazratbal shrine and other places to redress grievances or complaints of devotees.

In north Kashmir, the prayers were held at Jamia Masjid Bandipora, Jamia Masjid Baramulla, Jamia Masjid Kupwara, Masjid ul Murshideen Bumhama, Jamia Masjid Handwara and other local mosques alike.

In south Kashmir, prayers were held at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahle Hadith, Bait-ul-Mukarram and Rehat-Ded Masjid in Anantnag town. The prayers were also offered in Ziarat-e-Sharief Khiram Kund, Aishmuqam and Bijbehara areas of the south Kashmir district.

In Kulgam, the biggest nightlong prayer gathering was seen in Jamia Masjid. Large congregational prayer gatherings were also witnessed in Khankah Tral, Jamia Masjid Shopian and Jamia Masjid Pulwama.

The preachers and religious scholars highlighted the teachings of Islam and various aspects of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and urged Muslims to follow the principles and tenets of Islam. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: In order to ensure appropriate and necessary arrangements to facilitate general public to observe forthcoming religious festivals of Shab-e-Qadr, Jumat  ul Vida and Eid ul Fitr, the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri today chaired a meeting of officers to review facilities put in place by District Administrations and line departments.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners, Commissioner SMC, officers of Waqf Board, FCS&CA, PHE, PDD, R&B, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Health, Traffic Police, Metrology and other line departments.

During the meeting, the Div Com reviewed the availability of essential items, Ration, mutton and poultry in markets for the celebration of festivals.

He was briefed that there is abundance of all the essential items in the market and people would be facilitated through the arrangements of sale points of poultry on all the three occasions.

Div Com directed for the constitution of Joint Enforcement and Market Checking teams to check the quality of food items and illegal profiteering by traders, besides he instructed concerned to inspect the hygiene of workshops of Bakers & Confectioners.

The meeting was briefed about the availability of electricity and drinking water across the Kashmir valley.

With special focus on prime religious places where people throng in large numbers for congregational prayers, Div Com directed concerned officers to ensure availability of power back up, water tankers and sanitation at the Hazratbal Shrine and other mosques and shrines.

He also directed for publication of Traffic routes leading to Hazratbal Shrine and availability of RTC buses for the convenience of devotees.

Additionally, he directed SMC to conduct sanitation drives at Shrines and Mosques besides conducting cleanliness drives of roads to ensure dust free Eid.

The concerned officer of the Health Department was instructed to establish medical camps at Hazratbal Shrine and other places besides educating people regarding Covid Appropriate Behavior.

Bidhuri also appealed to people to adopt Covid Appropriate Behavior (CAB) during congregation prayers on the auspicious occasions as a precautionary measure to avoid spread of Covid-19. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: For the 3rd time, the historic Jamia Masjid here remained closed today on the occasion of ‘Jummat-ul-Vida’, last Friday of Muslim fasting month of Ramazan as authorities decided not to allow Jumat-ul-Vida prayers.

Except for Jamia Masjid prayers were held in rest of Kashmir to mark Jummat-ul-Vida with religious fervor and gaiety.

At Hazratbal shrine, thousands of devotees joined the congregational Friday prayers. The J&K Wakf Board, which controls the shrine management, had made arrangements for the devotees who were seen thronging the religious place since early Friday morning.

The congregational prayers were also held at all mosques and shrines in Srinagar including Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahlehadith, Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif, Janab Sahib Soura; Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib, Khanqah-e-Mualla, and different Imambaras.

In South Kashmir, people in large numbers offered Jumat-ul-Vida congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahlihadith, Bait-ul-Muqaram and Rehat-Ded Masjid in Islamabad (Anantnag) town. Congregational prayers were also offered in Ziarat-e-Sharief Khiram Kabamarg; Kund, Aishmuqam and Bijbehara areas of the district.

In Kulgam, the biggest prayer gathering was seen in Jamia Masjid. Large congregational prayer gathering was also witnessed in Khankah Tral, Jamia Masjid Shopian and Jamia Masjid Pulwama.

Thousands of Muslims also offered Jumat-ul-Vida prayers in all other districts of the UT.

Meanwhile, Devotees said that it is for the 3rd time in the living memory of people that they are being barred from offering Juma-tul-vida prayers at Jamia Masjid.

They added that for the whole year Muslims of the Valley keep waiting to offer prayers in Jamia Masjid on this most important last Friday of the holiest month of Ramadan to earn reward and seek forgiveness of their almighty. And even that right has been snatched from us by “authorities”.

Sumaira Nazir  usually offered Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid. “On this day I used to go early in the morning so that I could offer my salah inside the masjid. When sometimes the Jummah prayers were not allowed in the masjid, then I visited Bazar masjid. But this year despite normalcy i am not able to offer prayers in Jamia masjid due to reasons better known to authorities only ,” she said.

Similarly, Srinagar resident Mushtaq Ahmad said, “ We were hopeful that this Jumat-ul-Vida, we will be able to offer congregational prayers in Jamia but nothing such happened.”(CNS)

SRINAGAR: The managing body of the Jama Masjid here on Friday said that the authorities have disallowed “Jummat-ul-vida” congregational prayers at the historic mosque.

“District magistrate and police officials visited jama Masjid in the morning at 9.30 am and asked the management to lock the gates of the Masjid as administration had decided that jummat-ul-vida prayers will not be allowed at the Masjid,” Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said in a statement to GNS. 

“Anjuman strongly resents this move of the authorities causing great distress to lakhs of Muslims who traditionally come from all parts of the valley to offer prayers on the last and greatly blessed Friday of Ramzan in Jamia Masjid where offering prayers on last Friday has great significance,” the statement added. (GNS)

SINAGAR: To alleviate the widespread confusion among the people over the upcoming important events of ongoing holy month of Ramadan, scholars of different schools of thought have reached a consensus over several issues including that of Shab-e-Qadar and unequivocally decided to observe the night on April 17, 2023.

Talking to media persons, after due consultation and deliberation on the issues impending for the last several days, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, as per GNS, said that they have reached a consensus to observe the Shab-e-Qadr on April 17. “Efforts for moon sighting will also be made on April 20 and if at all the moon is sighted, people starting their first fast from Friday (March 24, 2023) will have to make the omitted fasting after Eid”, Islam said.

“Any decision regarding Eid will be made after thorough consultation with all scholars from different schools of thought”, he said adding, “MeT department will also be consulted before any such announcement.”

Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam thanked Chief Rector Dar-ul-Uloom Raheemiya Bandipora for supervising the meeting. 

Islam also said that a joint resolution was passed to seek release of Mirwaiz Kashmir Moulvi Umer Farooq, Maulana Abdur Rashid Dawoodi and other scholars currently under detention. 

Many speakers before the final announcement by Islam, suggested framing a Ruet exclusive to Jammu and Kashmir – a suggestion welcomed by many attendants to the meeting.

The hours-long consultation was attended by Moulana Rahmatullah Qasmi, Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi, Ghulam Rasool Hami and Prof Muhammad Tayib Kamili, Moulana Aga Syed Al Hassan Mousivi, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, Moulana Fayaz Ahmed Rizivi, Masroor Abbas Ansari and other prominent scholars.

Notably, there was a widespread confusion among the people over the sighting of moon in Jammu and Kashmir even as Grand Mufti, J&K, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, entrusted with the mandate announced that there was no ‘credible witness’ available with his office regarding sighting of moon from anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir albeit having earlier in the evening on March 23, 2023 received a ‘uncredible testimony from Poonch which after scrutiny turned too feeble to indicate start of fast on Thursday.’ (GNS)