Prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in the Kashmir valley and pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu will resume after a closure of five months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After consultations and suggestions, the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar will be reopened for prayers from August 18,” said a spokesman of the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid (AAJM), a caretaker body of the mosque.

It appealed to worshippers to adhere to health regulations and standard operating procedures. “We strongly suggest that vulnerable community members, elderly, sick and children should stay away from coming to the mosque for prayers. Young children should not be brought along to the mosque,” the spokesman said.

The AAJM has asked worshippers “not to greet each other by hugging, shaking hands or any other physical contact”.

“Worshippers will leave a distance of two metres between them and a space of one row between two rows. The use of fountains for ablution inside the mosques will not be permitted. Face masks and own prayer mats are a must,” the spokesman said.

The Vaishno Devi Yatra in Jammu threw open the shrine for devotees on Sunday morning.

Only 2,000 pilgrims can visit the shrine per day. “Only 100 from outside the Union Territory will be allowed up to the shrine,” a board official said.

According to the shrine board, the traditional route from Katra to Bhawan via Banganga, Adhkuwari and Sanjichhat was being used for going up and the Himkoti route-Tarakote Marg will be used for coming back from the Bhawan.

Only those pilgrims from the outside who carry COVID-19 negative reports will be allowed to move towards the Bhawan, the board officials said.