Mirwaiz delivers sermon after two weeks of ‘house arrest’, welcomes Kashmir Waza Association’s deadline for wedding dinners

SRINAGAR Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was placed under “house arrest for two weeks”, was allowed to deliver a sermon at historic Jama Masjid on Friday (November 13, 2026). In his sermon, the Mirwaiz expressed concern over the “repeated restrictions on his religious and public activities”. “Such arbitrary measures hurt people, cause inconvenience and amount to unwarranted interference in discharging his religious obligations as the Mirwaiz,” he said.

Stating that the pulpit of Jama Masjid “always stood for upholding faith and speaking the truth that reflects the concerns of people and their rights”, the Mirwaiz said, “It’s a responsibility that I cannot abandon”. Meanwhile, the Mirwaiz welcomed the recent decision of the Kashmir Waza Association, a body of chefs who cooks in weddings, “to regulate wedding feast timings, particularly its decision to conclude late-night wazwan (weddings feasts) dinners by 10 p.m.” Kashmiri wazas set deadlines for wedding meals citing lack of sleep, long working hours storyline 1 “The initiative is a positive step towards bringing discipline and simplicity to marriage celebrations while respecting the dignity and hard work of the waza (chef) community,” said the Mirwaiz.

The Mirwaiz said the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), an amalgam of religious bodies in J&K, will provide “full support for such constructive efforts towards social reform”. “While the Waza association’s decision is a step in the right direction, much needs to be done around growing extravagance, unnecessary additions to wedding customs, excessive expenditure and competitive displays of wealth that have placed enormous financial and social burdens on families,” said the Mirwaiz.

The cleric urged the society to preserve the beauty of its traditions, while doing away with wasteful practices. “Marriages should be simpler, dignified and affordable in accordance with Islamic teachings,” said the Mirwaiz. The Kashmiri Waza Association recently decided to seek bonds from the hosts over timing of dinner and decided “not to serve dinners after 10 p.m.” in weddings in Kashmir, citing “lack of sleep” and “prolonged working hours” for setting these deadlines.