Srinagar Mar 19 PTI Shab-e-Barat was observed across the Kashmir valley with night-long prayers at major mosques and shrines even as no congregation was allowed at the historic Jamia Masjid here officials said on SaturdayDevotees thronged mosques and shrines on Friday night to pray and participate in the recitation of the Holy Quran while preachers and religious scholars highlighted the importance of the night and the teachings of IslamShab-e-Barat is observed by Muslims on the intervening night of 14th and 15th Shaban the eighth month of the Islamic calendarHowever no prayers were allowed at the Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta area of the city the officials saidThe Anjumam Auqaf Jama Masjid managing committee of the mosque said the magistrate and police officials dropped by on Friday evening and informed that evening and night prayers and Shab-e-Barat prayers cannot be held at the mosqueThe mosque was then closed for the public the committee saidPDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the Centre was deliberately shutting the doors to religion to instil a sense of crushing disempowerment and despondencyAfter besieging tormenting Kashmiris in every possible way the only solace for people here is religion GOI is deliberately shutting the doors to that too to instil a sense of crushing disempowerment despondency Criminally cruel to say the least Mehbooba wrote on Twitter PTI SSB IJT