Charar-e-Sharief shrine

Charar-e-Sharief (also spelled Charar-i-Sharief, Charari Sharief, Chrari-Sharif, etc.) is a Sufi Muslim shrine and mosque situated in the town of Charari Sharief in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir union territory, India.[1][2] It is one of the oldest and sacrosanct shrines of Indian Muslims, including Kashmir Valley dedicated to a Kashmiri Sufi saint Nund Rishi.[3] It was built in 1460 to pay homage to Nund Rishi. On 11 May 1995, when a war broke out between the Indian forces and 150 militants, including Mast Gul, the shrine built of square-shaped wooden structure caught fire and was heavily damaged.[4] It has religious significance in the cultural heritage of Kashmir and is considered the holiest place of Muslims.[5]

This article is about a sufi muslim shrine. For town, see Charari Sharief.
Charar-e-Sharief
Charar-e-Sharief
Religion
AffiliationIslam
DistrictBudgam
RegionKashmir Valley
DeityNund Rishi
RiteSufism
FestivalMid-Sha'ban, Isra and Mi'raj, Laylat al-Qadr, Eid al-Fitr
Statusactive
Location
LocationCharari Sharief, Budgam
StateJammu and Kashmir
CountryIndia
SectorYusmarg
Architecture
TypeSquare shaped
FounderZain-ul-Abidin
Groundbreaking1460
Direction of façadeWest

It is believed that 900,000 devotees attends Urs (death anniversary) of the saint at Charar-e-Shaief shrine every year.[1][6] Besides Muslims, the shrine is also visited by Hindus.[7] After Sufi shrine gutted in fire, it was later reconstructed by the authorities however, local people accused the state government for not taking measures to prevent fire incidents.[8]

History

After the death of Nund Rishi, he was buried in Charar-i- Sharief town where the saint has been laid to rest. Later in 1946, the eighth sultan of the valley Zain-ul-Abidin, laid the foundation stone of the Charar-e-Sharief shrine at the burial site. Over the time, the shrine was partially damaged. Later, Yakub Shah Chak repaired the damaged parts. In 19th century, an Afghan governor named Atta Mohammad Khan, reconstructed the shrine. The shrine compound was engineered when Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was serving as the prime minister of the state. In 1979, the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages installed an epigraphic stone at the mazar (mausoleum) of Nund Rishi.[9]

Desecration

Since the shrine is also used by the Sufi Muslims to offer worships, in 2015, some unknown attackers hurled a grenade on the mosque that subsequently wounded ten devotees.[10] In 2001, unknown attackers carried out a terrorist attack on the women devotees during a Friday prayer that left 4 fatalities with fifty others wounded.[11][12]

On 11 May 1995, Hizbul Mujahideen militants took shelter inside the shrine that involved Indian security forces and militants in a direct combat. The battle evacuated more than 25,000 people from the encounter site and they took shelter in neighboring villages, "fearing that they would be caught in a battle". Initial reports cited 1,000 houses damaged and another 200 stores destroyed. Indian security forces didn't allow journalists to enter the affected area. The battle left thirty militants dead and fifteen security personnel were killed during a heavy fire exchange. The gunfight reportedly left a 65-year-old civilian dead.[13]

References
  1. Burns, John F. (May 12, 1995). "Muslim Shrine In Kashmir Is Destroyed". The New York Times.
  2. "Kashmir: Despite killing of key militants at Charar shrine, India loses a battle". India Today.
  3. "CHARAR-E-SHARIF IN KASHMIR".
  4. "Sufi shrine of Charar-e-Sharif on fire". India Today.
  5. "Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir". www.jkhudd.gov.in.
  6. "Department of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir - Charari Sharief". www.jktourism.org.
  7. "Why a trip to Yousmarg is must when in Kashmir?". Times of India Travel.
  8. "After fire audit, Wakf shelves measures to ensure safety of shrines". Greater Kashmir. December 5, 2019.
  9. "The Tribune - Windows - Featured story". www.tribuneindia.com.
  10. "Rare blast in mosque in Kashmir hurts 10". Reuters. 13 August 2015.
  11. "CNN.com - Four killed in grenade blast at Kashmir shrine - June 8, 2001". edition.cnn.com.
  12. "4 die, 50 hurt in Kashmir bomb attack". 10 June 2001.
  13. "ANCIENT SHRINE IN KASHMIR DESTROYED IN FIGHT BETWEEN INDIAN FORCES, REBELS". May 12, 1995 – via www.washingtonpost.com.

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