As the clock struck 4, a barely
perceptible crackle over the public address system soon turned into a
mellifluous call to prayer at Delhi 's
Jama Masjid.
I sat on a raised platform facing
the historic masjid in old Delhi .
The platform ran east-west along the length of the quadrangle enclosing a large
courtyard where visitors milled about and joyous children scattered hundreds of
feeding pigeons into the sky to watch them circle overhead before settling down
once again among the grains an old Muslim man in a skull cap had spread in the
middle of the courtyard.
Visitors continued to stream in
through the towering southern entrance. I let the muezzin’s magic work over me.
After hours on foot through Delhi ’s
crowded gallis here was a voice that made space I could meander in without
leaving my seat on the platform.
Behind me, framed in ornamented
arches that looked out to the Red Fort in the distance two Muslim women in
burqa sat cross-legged on the stone floor offering prayers from their holy
book. The Urdu letters were visible from where I sat several feet away. Not
once did they look up from the book in the time I was there.
The soft afternoon Sun slanted
across the platform, echoing the warmth the muezzin's call to prayer lent the
vanishing day.
9 comments:
Nice pictures. Your words described very well the scene there too. I felt like I could see it happening.
The second photo with the flying pigeons is a classic jama masjid photo. Great shot!
The women quietly reading their holy book... that's how it should be. Instead, what we have are the annoying loudspeakers.
Those are beautiful. You really manage to capture the scene without anyone seeing you, how do you do that?
as always, a lovely post, Anil. It's one of my favourite places too - love the peace - and it's great for photography!
You've captured the moment beautifully. Thank you for bringing us into the scene.
The silhouetted images of the mosque during dusk is beautifully captured!
Listening to the recording of the Muezzin's call whilst continuing to read the post, was quite like being there ourselves...
@Anil P
Once visit for Taz-ul-Masajid of Bhopal.It is really nice place & you will find more place too.
The bustling gallis near the gate no. 3 of the mosque beckons you for food, books and a short escape to study the buried 18th century old city of Shahjanabad ...when you go for the mosque, just dont visit the interior, try to visit the surrounding narrow lanes too.. every lane has a history
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