Srinagar, June 25: A centuries-old Muharram tradition unfolded in the interiors of Dal Lake, where hundreds of mourners gathered on 9th Muharram to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala.

As evening approached, devotees dressed in black made their way from Kand Mohalla, walking nearly a kilometre into the lake’s inner settlements before moving through narrow wooden bridges, floating hamlets and maze-like pathways.
The procession then continues on water, with groups boarding boats carrying Muharram flags and sailing through Dal Lake’s hidden channels before converging at the main gathering point.
Locals say the journey itself is part of the ritual. “We do not just attend the procession, we walk our history to reach it,” said a resident, adding that families have followed the same route for generations in remembrance of Imam Hussain (AS).
Black flags lined wooden bridges and rooftops as mourners moved through the floating neighbourhoods. Boats carrying devotees later emerged on calm waters, their reflections blending with the lake’s surface as elegies were recited.
With the Zabarwan hills in the backdrop, the blend of water routes and wooden walkways creates a distinctive form of observance that has continued for generations despite social and political changes.
Residents said the procession reflects the deep bond between the community and Dal Lake, which serves not just as a venue but as an integral part of their tradition and identity.