Bombings cast a shadow on famous Sufi shrine
By Zafri Mudasser Nofil, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) The bombs exploded far away, but the weekend terror attacks have thinned the crowds - slightly though - even at the revered shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya here.
In the narrow, chock-a-block lanes around the Sufi shrine, people are talking about the Saturday terror that snuffed out 59 innocent lives and left more than 200 injured.
The bustling markets of Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj have no thread to bind Hazrat Nizamuddin except for the crowds. And unlike in the first two places, the visitors to the shrine are mainly Muslims.
The festival spirit is very much on, and the aroma of kebabs, fried chicken, raw meat and roses add to the religious fervour.
With Ram[a]zan on and Eid round the corner, the shops around the shrine were full of life until the blasts occurred. Though the hundreds of shopkeepers and small-time vendors report a dip in sales, they hope that the blessing of the 12th century 'auliya' (saint) would put things back on track.
'As today is a Sunday, we were anticipating a heavy rush. But there was a slight fall in numbers,' an official at the shrine said.
'It may be due to fear but things won't take much time to return to normal. The blessings of the auliya will help,' the official told IANS.
The owner of Nasir Iqbal Restaurant admitted a marginal fall in business. 'But people are coming though not as we expected,' he said.
A couple from Ghana walked out of a guesthouse and politely declined to speak. Two brothers from Jammu and Kashmir - Hanif and Masood Qureishi - came out of Karim's quite satisfied.
'The food is real good,' remarked Hanif, who said they here for business.
The brothers, who come from a region that has seen plenty of violence, did not read much into the Delhi blasts.
'It's sad that such things are taking place in the country,' Masood said, hoping that all will be normal soon.
But Mohammad Ali, the kebab seller, and Akram, who sells 'itr' (perfume), claimed it was business as usual.
Ali was busy as ever, mounting the masala-dipped meat on the fire and, after a few minutes, laying them out on plates with chutneys and salads.
Akram, who waited near the shrine, put his best perfumes on people who came out after prayers.
Abdul, who sells flowers, was humming a ghazal. His business, he said, was also 'not that satisfactory' Sunday.
A couple from Kolkata - Himangshu and Nibedita Chatterjee - came to pay obeisance to the Nizamuddin Auliya.
'We were planning to go to Ajmer, but cancelled the trip due to the blasts. So we are here,' Himangshu said.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
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Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Bombings cast a shadow on famous Sufi shrine
Bombings cast a shadow on famous Sufi shrine
By Zafri Mudasser Nofil, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) The bombs exploded far away, but the weekend terror attacks have thinned the crowds - slightly though - even at the revered shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya here.
In the narrow, chock-a-block lanes around the Sufi shrine, people are talking about the Saturday terror that snuffed out 59 innocent lives and left more than 200 injured.
The bustling markets of Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj have no thread to bind Hazrat Nizamuddin except for the crowds. And unlike in the first two places, the visitors to the shrine are mainly Muslims.
The festival spirit is very much on, and the aroma of kebabs, fried chicken, raw meat and roses add to the religious fervour.
With Ram[a]zan on and Eid round the corner, the shops around the shrine were full of life until the blasts occurred. Though the hundreds of shopkeepers and small-time vendors report a dip in sales, they hope that the blessing of the 12th century 'auliya' (saint) would put things back on track.
'As today is a Sunday, we were anticipating a heavy rush. But there was a slight fall in numbers,' an official at the shrine said.
'It may be due to fear but things won't take much time to return to normal. The blessings of the auliya will help,' the official told IANS.
The owner of Nasir Iqbal Restaurant admitted a marginal fall in business. 'But people are coming though not as we expected,' he said.
A couple from Ghana walked out of a guesthouse and politely declined to speak. Two brothers from Jammu and Kashmir - Hanif and Masood Qureishi - came out of Karim's quite satisfied.
'The food is real good,' remarked Hanif, who said they here for business.
The brothers, who come from a region that has seen plenty of violence, did not read much into the Delhi blasts.
'It's sad that such things are taking place in the country,' Masood said, hoping that all will be normal soon.
But Mohammad Ali, the kebab seller, and Akram, who sells 'itr' (perfume), claimed it was business as usual.
Ali was busy as ever, mounting the masala-dipped meat on the fire and, after a few minutes, laying them out on plates with chutneys and salads.
Akram, who waited near the shrine, put his best perfumes on people who came out after prayers.
Abdul, who sells flowers, was humming a ghazal. His business, he said, was also 'not that satisfactory' Sunday.
A couple from Kolkata - Himangshu and Nibedita Chatterjee - came to pay obeisance to the Nizamuddin Auliya.
'We were planning to go to Ajmer, but cancelled the trip due to the blasts. So we are here,' Himangshu said.
By Zafri Mudasser Nofil, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) The bombs exploded far away, but the weekend terror attacks have thinned the crowds - slightly though - even at the revered shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya here.
In the narrow, chock-a-block lanes around the Sufi shrine, people are talking about the Saturday terror that snuffed out 59 innocent lives and left more than 200 injured.
The bustling markets of Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj have no thread to bind Hazrat Nizamuddin except for the crowds. And unlike in the first two places, the visitors to the shrine are mainly Muslims.
The festival spirit is very much on, and the aroma of kebabs, fried chicken, raw meat and roses add to the religious fervour.
With Ram[a]zan on and Eid round the corner, the shops around the shrine were full of life until the blasts occurred. Though the hundreds of shopkeepers and small-time vendors report a dip in sales, they hope that the blessing of the 12th century 'auliya' (saint) would put things back on track.
'As today is a Sunday, we were anticipating a heavy rush. But there was a slight fall in numbers,' an official at the shrine said.
'It may be due to fear but things won't take much time to return to normal. The blessings of the auliya will help,' the official told IANS.
The owner of Nasir Iqbal Restaurant admitted a marginal fall in business. 'But people are coming though not as we expected,' he said.
A couple from Ghana walked out of a guesthouse and politely declined to speak. Two brothers from Jammu and Kashmir - Hanif and Masood Qureishi - came out of Karim's quite satisfied.
'The food is real good,' remarked Hanif, who said they here for business.
The brothers, who come from a region that has seen plenty of violence, did not read much into the Delhi blasts.
'It's sad that such things are taking place in the country,' Masood said, hoping that all will be normal soon.
But Mohammad Ali, the kebab seller, and Akram, who sells 'itr' (perfume), claimed it was business as usual.
Ali was busy as ever, mounting the masala-dipped meat on the fire and, after a few minutes, laying them out on plates with chutneys and salads.
Akram, who waited near the shrine, put his best perfumes on people who came out after prayers.
Abdul, who sells flowers, was humming a ghazal. His business, he said, was also 'not that satisfactory' Sunday.
A couple from Kolkata - Himangshu and Nibedita Chatterjee - came to pay obeisance to the Nizamuddin Auliya.
'We were planning to go to Ajmer, but cancelled the trip due to the blasts. So we are here,' Himangshu said.
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