The illustrious Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar was formally reopened on Wednesday after undergoing an elaborate and months-long renovation and embellishment endeavour spearheaded by the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, officials confirmed.
Magnificent chandeliers etched with Quranic verses and a reimagined Noor-Khana further amplify the aura and grandeur of the shrine.
The ceremonial inauguration was presided over by the Chairperson of the Waqf Board, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi. She was accompanied by eminent members of the board as well.
Dr. Andrabi, who personally supervised the enterprise, hailed it as her “dream initiative” and expressed profound gratitude for being able to dedicate the project to devotees ahead of the auspicious Milad celebrations. She remarked that this state-of-the-art transformation has elevated Hazratbal into the most exquisite shrine in the country and beyond, while extending appreciation to the administration and the populace for their collective support.
The meticulous restoration drive, which commenced last year, encompassed structural reinforcement and re-plastering of the edifice through indigenous heritage craftsmanship. Alongside, a modernized digital electrical network, central air-conditioning, sophisticated sound and surveillance systems were installed. The shrine’s interiors were further adorned with gilded embellishments, katamband ceiling artistry, papier-mâché, pinjrakari latticework, resplendent calligraphy, and intricate glasswork.
A documentary chronicling the monumental project was also screened for devotees and visitors during a brief ceremonial gathering outside the shrine premises.
Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, while lauding the effort on X, stated:
“Congratulations to Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi & J&K Waqf Board for leading the historic renovation of Hazratbal Dargah.
It reads, after 1968, this is the first major interior transformation of the shrine. The new design blends modernity with the traditional artistry of Kashmir. A proud cultural milestone for J&K’s spiritual heritage. Grateful to PM Shri Narendramodi ji & HM Shri AmitShah ji for their vision & support,” Rijiju, India’s Minister of Minority Affairs, shared on X.
It bears mention that the Hazratbal Shrine, a revered locus of devotion which magnetizes thousands of worshippers from across Jammu & Kashmir and beyond, now stands rejuvenated as a resplendent emblem of the region’s spiritual and cultural patrimony.
