SRINAGAR: Congregational Friday prayer was offered at the historic Jamia Masjid or Grand Mosque in down town Srinagar, after a gap of two Fridays.
A general shutdown is being observed in the valley, but the authorities did not impose any restrictions or curfew in the Mosque, located in the sensitive old city.
A large number of people joined the Zuhr prayers this afternoon.
On the previous two Fridays, worshippers were not allow to pray at the Mosque due to a curfew imposed by the authorities, fearing violent protests after the prayers over the hanging of Afzal Guru.
Fridays are significant as the afternoon prayers attract larger gatherings than on usual days.
However, the Mirwaiz or the chief priest who delivers the Friday sermon was absent as authorities have placed him under house arrest.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who also heads the moderate faction of separatist alliance Hurriyat Conference has been placed under house arrest ever since he returned from Delhi where also he was detained by the authorities since Feb 9, when Guru was executed.
His party has condemned his prolonged detention.
Meanwhile devotees in good numbers thronged to the shrine of Dastgeer Sahab where the relic of Sufi saint Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani was displayed.
The Urs of the saint was observed last Friday, but devotees had to face a tough time reaching the shrine in Khanyar area and many other places due to the curfew.
