Kashmiri Muslims offer Eid prayers at Eidgah in Srinagar in 1911-1920. The 50 acres of Eidgah was purchased by Mir Mohammad Hamdani in the 15th century. He gave it to the public for offering the congregational Eid prayers. Many eminent scholars and Saints of Kashmiris have delivered their sermons at Eidgah such as Sheikh ul Aalam and Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom. During the Sikh regime the Muslims were barred from offering prayers until the last governor Sheikh Mohiuddin lifted the ban. In the background is the historical Aali Masjid which was built during the reign of Sultan Hassan Shahmiri in 1471. It is the second largest mosque of Kashmir after the Jamia Masjid. Eidgah is also a playing field for the local residents but the years of encroachments and state apathy have reduced it to just 8 acres. Kashmir’s biggest martyrs graveyard is also part of Eidgah. The date of the picture is between 1911-1920. It’s most likely that the prayers were led by the then Mirwaiz, Maulana Ahmadullah Shah. First one is the colourised version of the original photo taken by an unknown photographer for the Royal Geographical Society. #KashmirHistoryProject #KashmirInColour #Kashmir #eidmubarak #eid #kashmiris #kashmirdiaries #kashmirlovers #mosquesofworld https://www.instagram.com/p/COzfkENnBxK/?utm_medium=tumblr
