LAHORE – A large number of people visited graveyards during Youm-e-Ashur to pray for the departed soul of their loved ones.
Many people visited graveyards on Eids but Muharram, which marks the martyrdom of the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) grandson Imam Hussain (RA), his family members and companions, provided another opportunity for people to visit the graves of their loved one who had passed away but left behind sweet memories to cherish.
Although, city roads were deserted during the 9th and 10th of Muharram but a usual rush was witnessed at various small and large graveyards across the city. Flower traders also benefited from the situation and charged higher rates from people for selling various flowers including rose petals, bouquets, floral wreaths and sheets inscribed with Quranic verses, which were laid on graves.
A large number of women and children also accompanied men to graveyards and were seen reciting Quranic verses for blessing of the departed souls. People were also seen asking the graveyard staff to clean and renovate the graves of their loved ones besides sprinkling water on them.
Make-shift flower shops were seen fleecing people, as rose petals usually sold for Rs 60 per kilogramme were being sold from Rs 100 to 150, adding to the miseries of the people. At some graveyards, parking stand staff charged double rates from people for parking their vehicles.
Maximum rush was witnessed at the Miani Sahib graveyard, which was Asia’s largest graveyard. Owing to threat of terrorist attacks, security personnel were deployed at graveyards to ensure protection of people. People said that they felt satisfied after visiting the graves of their loved ones, as it looked like that the time spent with the departed had come back.
“We really feel satisfied after visiting the graveyard, as it felt that we are returning back to our homes after having a meeting with the departed souls”, people said. Visiting a graveyard makes a man think that death is eternal and one day he would also be accountable before God.
