Charar-e-Sharief shrine
| Charar-e-Sharief Shrine | |
|---|---|
Kashmiri: Tsrar-i-Sharif | |
 Charar-e-Sharief in 2023 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Rite | Sufism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Sufi shrine and mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Charari Sharief, Budgam, Kashmir Valley, Yusmarg, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Country | India |
  Location of the shrine and mosque in Jammu and Kashmir | |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°51′59″N 74°46′00″E / 33.86639°N 74.76667°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Square mosque architecture |
| Founder | Zain-ul-Abidin |
| Completed | 1460 CE |
| Direction of façade | West |
The Charar-e-Sharief Shrine (also spelled Charar-i-Sharief, Charari Sharief, Chrari-Sharif, etc.) is a Sufi shrine and mosque situated in the town of Charari Sharief in the Budgam district, in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, 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]
The shire and mosque were built in 1460 to pay homage to Nund Rishi. It has religious significance in the cultural heritage of Kashmir and is considered a holy site for Muslims.[4] but is also visited by Hindus.[5] After the Sufi shrine was gutted by a fire in 1995, it was rebuilt.[6] The 1995 incident was related to the escape of Pakistan-based terrorist Mast Gul.[7] Local people accused the local government of not taking measures to prevent incidences of fire.[8]
History
[edit]After the death of Nund Rishi around 1438, he was buried in Charari Sharief. In 1446, 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. During the 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
[edit]On 11 May 1995, Hizbul Mujahideen militants took shelter inside the shrine when they and Indian security forces were in 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 and fifteen security personnel dead during a heavy fire exchange. The gunfight also reportedly left a 65-year-old civilian dead.[10] The BBC News falsely reported the shrine had been stormed by the Indian Army and retracted the claim only after being strongly criticised.[11][12]
In 2001, unknown attackers carried out a terrorist attack on the women devotees during a Friday prayer that left four fatalities with fifty others wounded.[13][14]
In 2015, unknown attackers hurled a grenade at the mosque; ten devotees were wounded.[15]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Burns, John F. (12 May 1995). "Muslim Shrine In Kashmir Is Destroyed". The New York Times.
- ^ "Kashmir: Despite killing of key militants at Charar shrine, India loses a battle". India Today. 31 May 1995.
- ^ "CHARAR-E-SHARIF IN KASHMIR".
- ^ "Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir". www.jkhudd.gov.in.
- ^ "Why a trip to Yousmarg is must when in Kashmir?". Times of India Travel. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Kashmir: Despite killing of key militants at Charar shrine, India loses a battle". India Today. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Sufi shrine of Charar-e-Sharif on fire". India Today. 2 July 2007.
- ^ "After fire audit, Wakf shelves measures to ensure safety of shrines". Greater Kashmir. 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Featured story". www.tribuneindia.com.
- ^ "Ancient Shrine in Kashmir Destroyed in Fight Between Indian Forces, Rebels". The Washington Post. 12 May 1995. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "As New Delhi accuses BBC for goof-ups, network to go in for tougher and tighter procedures". India Today. 15 July 1995.
- ^ Rai, Ajai K. (June 2000). "Conflict Situations and the Media: A Critical Look". Strategic Analysis. 24 (3). Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group): 585–601. doi:10.1080/09700160008455233. S2CID 145094564.
- ^ "Four killed in grenade blast at Kashmir shrine". CNN. 8 June 2001.
- ^ "4 die, 50 hurt in Kashmir bomb attack". Arab News. 10 June 2001.
- ^ "Rare blast in mosque in Kashmir hurts 10". Reuters. 13 August 2015.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Charar-e-Sharief shrine at Wikimedia Commons
