By IRNA
Srinagar : Hundreds of thousands of mourners chanting O’Hussein and beating their chests took to streets across Kashmir on Sunday to mark Ashura, the climax of the ten day long ceremonies to remember the supreme sacrifice of Imam Hussein and his companions on the plains of Karbala some 1400 years ago.
The processions passed by peacefully across Kashmir, a police spokesman told IRNA Sunday night.
Tens of thousands joined processions in Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama and Baramulla and in Kargil region of Ladakh bordering China to remember sacrifices of Imam Hussein.
The highlight of this year’s Muharram was the display of flags of the Hezbollah and portraits of Hassan Nasrallah along with Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khameini.
Reports said a minor skirmish between two groups in old city Saturday night was soon brought under control as top Kashmiri leadership intervened and appealed for calm and unity.
Top Sunni leader of Kashmir Syed Ali Shah Geelani described Nasrallah and Ahmadinejad as ideals for Muslims of Kashmir and said that this was an ample proof how united Kashmiri Muslims were.
Meanwhile hundreds of mourners were arrested by police when they tried to defy a government ban on traditional Ashura procession in capital Srinagar.
The ban imposed 18 years back continues despite government claims of return of normalcy in the state.
Shia leaders describe the ban as illegal and discriminatory.