Indian Kashmir: The Jamia mosque becomes a refuge against the extreme cold

The Jamia mosque, the largest Muslim place of worship in Srinagar, has been transformed into a providential shelter from the cold wave hitting the capital of Indian Kashmir. In its vast prayer rooms usually reserved for the faithful, hot tea and blankets are now distributed to travelers surprised by the freezing temperatures.

“Our mosque has always been a place of welcome and comfort,” explains the imam, who coordinates this emergency operation. His initiative was emulated: many residents of Srinagar also opened their doors to people stranded by the cold.

In this Himalayan valley where the thermometer has dropped well below zero, this citizen mobilization, starting from the great mosque, is reviving a centuries-old tradition of hospitality. With the weather forecast announcing the persistence of the cold, the religious building maintains its reception facilities.

This initiative takes on particular symbolism in a region marked by political tensions. Beyond its religious function, the Jamia mosque thus reaffirms its historical social role, recalling that places of worship in Kashmir have always been pillars of community resilience. A demonstration of mutual aid which transcends the divisions in this disputed region between India and Pakistan.