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Unity week is also marked in the same spirit by both Shias and Sunnis. While in many parts of the world, Eid e Milad celebrations raise eyebrows among radical Salafi Muslims, in Kashmir, which is known as an abode of Sufis, many of whom came from Iran in the middle of 14th century, the occasion is celebrated with great religious fervor.

“We must be very careful to not allow our enemies succeed in their notorious plans to divide us into groups, because at the end of the day, what unites us is more than what divides us,” he told the gathering. Speaking at one of the rallies in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, young scholar and cleric Agha Syed Hadi Moosvi said Islamic unity has become urgent and essential to foil the designs of mischief-mongers who seek to create fissures in the Muslim world. Special prayers were held at night in different mosques across the valley amid tight security. Thousands of people gathered at the famous Hazratbal shrine to celebrate Eid e Milad and ‘unity week’. This year also, many street rallies and prayer meetings were held, which saw the participation of people from all walks of life, cutting across sectarian and ideological lines. In Kashmir, ‘unity week’ is celebrated every year with tremendous festive spirit. Solidarity rallies, cultural events, and other programs brought people from both Shia and Sunni schools of thought together to celebrate the birth of the man who is regarded as the symbol of Islamic unity. In India, major ‘unity week’ events were held in New Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Kashmir. Marked first time in Iran in mid-1980s, the ‘unity week’ has become a permanent annual event in many Muslim countries. “Hotel rooms are not available in good locations,” said Pronab Sarkar, a New Delhi-based tour operator and the past president of the Indian Tour Operators Association.TEHRAN _The ‘Islamic unity week’ (hafte wahdat), which marks the birth anniversary of Holy Prophet (pbuh), was observed across the world with tremendous fervor.

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The rush is so strong that tour operators said they are having a hard time finding bookings for their clients as hotels are between 80% to 90% full and air fares have increased. “Hotels room tariffs have gone up by over 30% from the pre-Covid period, and there is a huge rush for bookings,” he said.

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Many hoteliers and houseboat owners said tourists have booked rooms in advance for the next couple of weeks, and the earnings helped them to pay part of their debts.Īfter a gap of years, hoteliers, taxi drivers and tour operators are doing a brisk business, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, 75, a tour operator in Srinagar said. Hafeez said an advertising campaign across major Indian cities and the opening of new destinations was attracting more tourists.īoatman Wali Mohammad Bhat, 54, said he had no work during the pandemic, “but, now I am earning 1,000 to 1,500 rupees ($13-$20) a day and we expect a good tourist season ahead.” The lake’s famous houseboats are major attractions along with the nearby Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, Asia’s largest, and the region’s mountains and glaciers. Touting itself as “Paradise on Earth,” Kashmir is home to Dal Lake, which was a favorite centuries ago for Mughal emperors escaping the summer heat of India’s plains. The houseboats of Srinagar, a sinking piece of Indian heritageĪlong with horticulture and agriculture, tourism is an important industry for Kashmir, contributing about 7% to its economy, according to government data.

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