J&K Muharram: Serving water to mourners, “Who is Hussain” group ensures no environmental violations

With thousands of water filled plastic bottles in offering, group ensures proper collection & disposal of empty bottles

As the Shite Muslims—commonly known as the Imamiya school of thought— for the first time in more than three decades marched in mourning procession on the 8th Muharram on the "traditional routes" of Srinagar on Thursday, the designated road stretch for the procession presented a vast number of canopies on the roadsides, distributing water among passersby and mourners.

Among the free water distribution stalls on the designated road stretch, Abrar Ali, a functionary of the Kashmir chapter of the social justice organization “Who is Hussain" too, had installed a canopy for the distribution of the “free” water among the mourners, but the charity group had taken due care that the empty plastic water bottles they distribute are not scattered on the road to pollute or cause any damage to the environment.

Eco-conscious water distribution group

“We have a separate designated team that after specific time intervals collect the empty plastic bottles within and nearby our stall, and we ensure their proper disposal without causing any damage to the environment”, he said.

Ali told Ground Report that he is associated with an apolitical and a-religious London-based organization, “Who is Hussian,” since 2014 and is mainly into interfaith, harmony, and brotherhood activities.

Ali said that they mainly remain active with free water distribution campaigns during the holy months of Ramadan and Muhrham, adding that the trolley-driven Sabeels which have an age-old tradition in the Kashmir valley also serve tea and water to mourners during the procession.

Adapting to unexpected challenges efficiently

However, for Ali, the 8^th of Muharram is different from what they have been witnessing since the start of their organization in Kashmir.

On the 26^th of July evening, after a surprise announcement by the Jammu and Kashmir administration on granting a “conditional” permission to shite Muslims for taking out the 8^th Muhrham procession, Ali had to call up a meeting on a war footing basis with his team to make the arrangements for the distribution of water with an anticipation that people in large numbers will be participating the procession.

“We were completely taken by surprise with the J&K government’s decision of allowing to take out procession, there was happiness within the group but that followed challenge as well, as we had to make the arrangement of the water bottle stock in large number”, he says.

Ali said that they would normally distribute 70-80 crates of water bottles in a day, but after the surprise announcement and their projection, they stocked up around 700 crates within a night after approaching the suppliers.

For the mega Muhrham procession, Ali and his team laid the charity group’s stall at the recently revamped polo view market in Srinagar, a market which witnessed a major makeover under the much-hyped project, “Srinagar Smart City” and also witnessed the visit of G-20 members who recently visited the valley in connection with tourism summit meet.

Eco-conscious waste collection at stall

“Apart from our collection team, we have also placed two big plastic bag containers on both sides of our stall in which all the empty plastic bottles are collected”, he says.

 Ali says that for this day they have a team of around 30 members comprising both males and females who have been further split into smaller teams to ensure the smooth distribution of water and collection of empty plastic bottles.

“We have been holding the free water distribution drives since 2014, but this event on this historic route where mourners have been allowed to pass after three decades is historic for us. This day itself stands history for us and we are fortunate that we are a part of it”, he adds.

Ali claims that during the holy months of Ramadan and Muharram, their free water distribution effort receives enormous support and assistance from all sects of society, who, according to Ali, would come up unreservedly with various forms of donations to support their free water distribution campaign.

On Thursday, amid praises for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), thumping their chests and recitation of praises for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the historic procession started from GuruBazar area of Srinagar city passed through Budshah Chowk to M A Road and then ended at Dalgate peacefully.

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