Haji Ali Dargah: Islamic residence in Mumbai
Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari was a Persian Sufi saint from Bukhara, located in modern Uzbekistan. There is a small legend that the saint once saw a poor woman crying on the road, holding an empty vessel. She accidentally spilled the oil she was carrying on the ground and was afraid of her husband's reaction. After that, Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari touched the ground with his finger, and oil flowed out of that place. The woman was delighted, filled an empty vessel and went to her home.
But after the incident, the saint had a recurring and disturbing dream that showed him that he had disturbed the earth with this action. Feeling regret, he went to travel the world at the beginning of the XV century. Having decided to settle in Mumbai, he devoted himself to spreading Islam.
Many other legends say that he felt bad during his journey to Mecca. He ordered his followers to put the coffin in the Arabian Sea after his death. Nevertheless, the coffin with his body sailed from Mecca back to the island off the coast of Worli, and today there is a sanctuary in the same place in the sea. The revered shrine of Haji Ali in Mumbai, which is called Haji Ali Darga, is one of the most famous and iconic attractions of Indian Mumbai. It is known that it is more than 550 years old and is often visited by people of all faiths. In 2020, the monument was listed in the World Book of Records as one of the most visited shrines in the world. Thousands of people visit Haji Ali Dargah every day, which makes it one of the most attractive tourist destinations. According to Suhail Khandwani, a trustee of the temple, about 50,000 people visit the religious site daily, while on Friday, Sunday and Thursday the number of visitors reaches almost 100,000.
Haji Ali Dargah is located on a small island, just 500 meters from the coast. The structure of the temple consists of magnificent marble. There are also typical illustrations of Indo-Islamic architecture, which are adjacent to the mosque, multiple minarets show the grandeur of this structure. The entrance is made in the form of an arch.
The tomb of Pir Haji Ali, located in the main hall of the complex, has a chest, this is a type of sarcophagi installed over the graves of prominent people in the Turkish-Islamic tradition. The chest is covered with green and red brocade. In addition, the marble ceiling of the main hall is decorated with mirror work in a kaleidoscopic design. There are also 99 names of Allah inscribed here.
The usual path connects the sanctuary with the mainland coast. Since it is submerged at high tide, the landmark is only accessible at low tide.
The Dargah complex itself has a huge foyer called Qawwal Khana, where believers relax and listen to Sufi music programs, which consist of qawwali (a form of Sufi Islamic singing originating from the Indian subcontinent), and performances in honor of Haji Ali are also held there. The Sufi beliefs themselves are of special value and are of great importance to the adherents who visit this wonderful temple.
It is also worth mentioning a few miracles that are associated with this temple. In 1949, Mumbai was hit by a severe storm that partially damaged almost all buildings in the city except the Dargah complex. People who were inside the structure at that moment were afraid that they would drown, but strong winds seemed to lean against the wall of the temple, as if they were subordinate to the saint - and then completely disappeared without causing any damage to the building. The people who were inside, after the storm ended, got out safely and went home.
Another miracle happened in 2005, when the monsoon season brought a severe flood to the Mumbai Valley, which washed away all roads and destroyed some buildings in the city, but the road that leads to the temple, like the temple itself, turned out to be intact and undamaged.
It is also worth saying that many Bollywood actors, including Tusshar Kapoor, Vidya Balan and others, consider the temple a great place for filming. Actor Emran Hashmi always comes to this temple for a blessing before going to any film project. In addition, this notable landmark in Mumbai has served as a backdrop in many Bollywood films, the most famous of which is "Once upon a Time in Mumbai".
Source of information:
http://www.dailysabah.com
But after the incident, the saint had a recurring and disturbing dream that showed him that he had disturbed the earth with this action. Feeling regret, he went to travel the world at the beginning of the XV century. Having decided to settle in Mumbai, he devoted himself to spreading Islam.
Many other legends say that he felt bad during his journey to Mecca. He ordered his followers to put the coffin in the Arabian Sea after his death. Nevertheless, the coffin with his body sailed from Mecca back to the island off the coast of Worli, and today there is a sanctuary in the same place in the sea. The revered shrine of Haji Ali in Mumbai, which is called Haji Ali Darga, is one of the most famous and iconic attractions of Indian Mumbai. It is known that it is more than 550 years old and is often visited by people of all faiths. In 2020, the monument was listed in the World Book of Records as one of the most visited shrines in the world. Thousands of people visit Haji Ali Dargah every day, which makes it one of the most attractive tourist destinations. According to Suhail Khandwani, a trustee of the temple, about 50,000 people visit the religious site daily, while on Friday, Sunday and Thursday the number of visitors reaches almost 100,000.
Haji Ali Dargah is located on a small island, just 500 meters from the coast. The structure of the temple consists of magnificent marble. There are also typical illustrations of Indo-Islamic architecture, which are adjacent to the mosque, multiple minarets show the grandeur of this structure. The entrance is made in the form of an arch.
The tomb of Pir Haji Ali, located in the main hall of the complex, has a chest, this is a type of sarcophagi installed over the graves of prominent people in the Turkish-Islamic tradition. The chest is covered with green and red brocade. In addition, the marble ceiling of the main hall is decorated with mirror work in a kaleidoscopic design. There are also 99 names of Allah inscribed here.
The usual path connects the sanctuary with the mainland coast. Since it is submerged at high tide, the landmark is only accessible at low tide.
The Dargah complex itself has a huge foyer called Qawwal Khana, where believers relax and listen to Sufi music programs, which consist of qawwali (a form of Sufi Islamic singing originating from the Indian subcontinent), and performances in honor of Haji Ali are also held there. The Sufi beliefs themselves are of special value and are of great importance to the adherents who visit this wonderful temple.
It is also worth mentioning a few miracles that are associated with this temple. In 1949, Mumbai was hit by a severe storm that partially damaged almost all buildings in the city except the Dargah complex. People who were inside the structure at that moment were afraid that they would drown, but strong winds seemed to lean against the wall of the temple, as if they were subordinate to the saint - and then completely disappeared without causing any damage to the building. The people who were inside, after the storm ended, got out safely and went home.
Another miracle happened in 2005, when the monsoon season brought a severe flood to the Mumbai Valley, which washed away all roads and destroyed some buildings in the city, but the road that leads to the temple, like the temple itself, turned out to be intact and undamaged.
It is also worth saying that many Bollywood actors, including Tusshar Kapoor, Vidya Balan and others, consider the temple a great place for filming. Actor Emran Hashmi always comes to this temple for a blessing before going to any film project. In addition, this notable landmark in Mumbai has served as a backdrop in many Bollywood films, the most famous of which is "Once upon a Time in Mumbai".
Source of information:
http://www.dailysabah.com