On the morning of Eid, the Kashmir Valley wakes with a unique rhythm. Streets remain calm but the narrow lanes of neighbourhoods slowly begin to fill with people moving toward Eidgah grounds. Men dressed in traditional attire walk with prayer mats in their hands. Children hurry beside their fathers with excitement. Elders move slowly but with quiet anticipation. Within minutes vast open fields transform into seas of humanity where thousands stand shoulder to shoulder in prayer. For a brief moment the entire community gathers in a single place defined by faith unity and collective identity.

Once the prayers end the crowds disperse and the ground returns to silence. A few hours later children begin to play cricket. Some young men kick a football across the uneven surface. Occasionally shepherds cross through with grazing animals. Dust rises with every step and patches of grass grow unevenly across the ground. For most of the year these large spaces remain neglected and underused. Yet when Eid arrives, they instantly become the most important public spaces in towns and villages across Kashmir. This transformation reveals an important but often overlooked reality. Eidgahs are not merely religious grounds used twice a year. They are among the largest open spaces within Kashmiri settlements. In an era when urban areas struggle to create parks playgrounds and gathering spaces Kashmir already possesses them. Unfortunately, their civic value has rarely been recognized.

Beyond their religious function these Eidgahs historically acted as collective public grounds. Social interactions community discussions and informal gatherings often took place here. In a region where dense settlements narrow streets and crowded neighbourhoods limit the availability of open land the Eidgah served as a natural public square. It was a place where society gathered without barriers of class profession or neighbourhood. Ironically modern urban development in Kashmir rarely acknowledges this legacy. Planning debates often revolve around highways tunnels flyovers and housing colonies. These projects are important for connectivity and economic growth but cities also require open spaces where people can breathe gather and interact. Parks playgrounds and assembly grounds are essential components of healthy urban environments. Without them cities become congested and socially disconnected.

Eidgahs quietly perform many of these roles even today. First, they serve as the largest congregation spaces in many towns. During Eid thousands gather peacefully in one place. Without such grounds the same crowds would spill onto surrounding roads creating serious traffic and safety challenges. Second, they function as informal recreation spaces for youth. Throughout the year many young people use Eidgah grounds for cricket, football and other activities. In the absence of dedicated playgrounds these fields often become the only available sports space for nearby neighbourhoods. Despite poor maintenance and limited facilities, the grounds continue to attract enthusiastic players. Third, Eidgahs can serve as emergency assembly areas during disasters. Open grounds are critically important during earthquakes floods or fires when people must move quickly to safe locations. Kashmir has experienced such natural events in the past and large open spaces have always played a crucial role in community safety. Fourth, these grounds carry enormous cultural and social value. They represent a living connection between present day Kashmir and centuries of tradition. The atmosphere of an Eid congregation at any Eidgah reflects a collective spirit that few other spaces can replicate.

Despite their importance many Eidgahs across Kashmir suffer from neglect. Poor maintenance is the most visible issue. Uneven ground, water-logging, and lack of drainage make large parts of these fields unusable during rainy seasons. Instead of functioning as vibrant public spaces, they often resemble abandoned land. Another challenge is the gradual shrinking of Eidgah land. Over decades sections of land have quietly disappeared due to encroachments urban expansion and administrative indifference. Buildings and roads slowly move closer reducing the sense of openness that once defined these grounds. Infrastructure facilities within many Eidgahs are also extremely limited. Most grounds lack proper pathways lighting sanitation systems or seating areas. During Eid prayers thousands gather yet temporary arrangements struggle to manage the crowd effectively. Outside festival days the grounds remain poorly developed and unattractive for regular public use.

Yet the opportunity for transformation is enormous. With thoughtful planning Eidgahs could become multifunctional public spaces that serve religious social and urban needs throughout the year. Imagine Eidgahs that remain active every day. On Eid mornings they host thousands of worshippers in well organized prayer grounds with proper entry routes sanitation and crowd management systems. On ordinary days they become green public parks where families walk children play and elders sit beneath the shade of trees. Youth practice football or cricket in designated sports areas while visitors experience them as cultural landscapes that reflect the social life of Kashmir. Such a transformation does not require new land acquisition. The land already exists. What it requires is vision planning and modest infrastructure investment. Proper ground levelling drainage pedestrian pathways sanitation facilities and landscaping could convert these grounds into vibrant community spaces. Sports infrastructure such as football fields cricket practice nets and jogging tracks could provide young people with structured recreational opportunities. At the same time heritage sensitivity must remain central so that the spiritual character of these spaces is preserved.

The irony is striking. Many cities around the world invest enormous resources to build parks plazas and sports fields while Kashmir inherited similar civic spaces centuries ago in the form of Eidgahs. These grounds already exist within towns and villages across the Valley waiting to be rediscovered. Every Eid morning offers a powerful reminder of their importance when thousands gather peacefully in one place united by faith community and tradition. But their value should not remain limited to a single day of prayer. Eidgahs can become the breathing spaces of crowded neighbourhoods the playgrounds of young athletes the safe assembly grounds during disasters and the civic landscapes that strengthen community life across Kashmir. Recognizing Eidgahs as civic infrastructure rather than occasional religious grounds could transform the urban experience of the Valley. The land is already there. The history is already written. What remains is the vision to see these sacred grounds not as forgotten fields but as living public spaces at the heart of Kashmiri society.

Peerzada Mohsin Shafi hails from Anantnag and is an infrastructure columnist

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