All arrangements put in place for smooth Eid namaz: Waqf chairperson

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi said all arrangements have been made for smooth Eid-ul-Fitr prayers tomorrow.

She along with other Waqf members toured various shrines today to review the arrangements. 

“The entire administration is here and we took stock of arrangements for Eid prayers. The government is sensitive to the concerns of the people and we will ensure that the people do not face any sort of inconvenience while offering Eid prayers. Eid is a special prayer. We have already toured Dargah Hazratbal and we will also review arrangements at the Dastageer Sahib shrine and Hazrat Syed (Yaqoob) Sahib shrine at Sonwar,” Andrabi told reporters during her visit to the Makhdoom Sahib shrine,” she said.

Andrabi assured that Eidgah will be ready for prayers by  next Eid-ul-Adha.“ Eidgah is an open space and its ground has to be made even, and also, other arrangements are needed (for holding Eid prayers). It won’t be possible to do the same in a day. InshAllah by Eid-ul-Azha, we will make all the arrangements. The (Waqf) board is here. Corona too is over and next Eid-ul-Azha prayers will be held at Eidgah,” she said.

Andrabi was appointed the first woman chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board earlier this year. She said the donations would be utilized in setting up hospitals, guest houses, ‘langars’, and other facilities for the devotees.

“Wakf belongs to the nation and its people. All shrines have been made on Waqf land and whatever the income it gets is called baitul maal. This bait-ul-maal should be used to serve the poor and make hospitals. Setting up hospitals is the need of the hour. And there are no guest houses at our shrines. If you look at the shrines like Baba Reshi, Hazratbal, or Makhdoom Sahib, there are no such facilities. If a devotee wishes to stay overnight at the shrines, he or she has got no place to stay. There should have been a ‘langar’ in place at the shrines. If not for 24 hours, it should be functional for at least 12 hours. The shrines get a lot of income and it is our vision to set up such facilities. It should be the vision of all Kashmiris,” she had stated