Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir today, where he will inaugurate the integrated developmental project of Hazratbal shrine, in what will be his first visit to the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370. Participating in the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ programme at Bakshi stadium, the inauguration will be a part of the slew of projects to be launched under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme. Here is all you need to know about the shrine: The reverence of Hazratbal Shrine Situated on the left bank of the famous Dal Lake, the Hazratbal Shrine holds relevance to Muslims as it is believed to preserve 'Moi-e-Muqqadas' – the sacred hair of Prophet Muhammad's beard. The construction of the shrine began in 1968, in the oversight of Muslim Auqaf Trust's Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, and the white marble edifice with a domed structure was completed in the year 1979, as per the J&K Toursim Development Corporation website. Also referred to as Assar-e-Sharief, Dargah Sharif and Madinat-us-Sani, this mosque is touted as an epitome of love and devotion for the Prophet. The shrine is frequented by locals during Friday mass prayers, and sees an influx of visitors on special religious occasions, when holy relics are displayed, the website noted further. Brief history of the site The significance of the site dates back to the 17th century, when the site of the shrine was home to Ishrat Mahal and a garden, which were built in 1623 by Shah Jahan's subedar Sadiq Khan. Upon his arrival in 1634, Shah Jahan ordered to convert the palace into a place for offering prayers. When Moi-e-Muqqadas arrived in Kashmir in 1699, it was kept in the Naqashbad Sahib for some time, before becoming a part of the Hazratbal. PM to unveil other projects in the Valley PM on Thursday will unveil multiple projects related to the tourism sector worth over Rs 1,400 crore, including the the ski drag lift at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district. He will also flag off prohects such as the development of tourism facilities in Northeast circuit in Meghalaya; Spiritual Circuit in Bihar and Rajasthan; Rural and Tirthankar Circuit in Biha ; development of Jogulamba Devi Temple, Jogulamba Gadwal District, Telangana; and development of Amarkantak Temple, Annupur District, Madhya Pradesh. He will also announce tourist destinations selected under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme. Besides, the Prime Minister will distribute appointment orders to about 1,000 new Government recruits of Jammu and Kashmir, an official press release stated.
