Masjid-i-Jahan Numa or Jama Masjid situated in the ancient town of Old
Delhi, 1 km west of Red
Fort is one of the grand architectural examples of the Mughal
era. The mosque is India's largest mosque and the last architectural work
of the Mughal Emperor Shajahan which is much simpler than his other secular
buildings.
Built between 1644 and 1658 AD, the mosque has three
gateways, four angle towers and two minarets standing 40 m high. 5,000
laborers were employed for six years to complete its work in 1656.
Designed by Ustad Khalil, the great sculptor of his time, it was built
at the cost of 10 lakh (1 million) Rupees. Commonly called as Friday Mosque
(as 'Jama' means Friday, which is the holy day of the Muslims) the mosque
is made of red sandstone and marble.
Gateways - These steps leads to the courtyard
of the mosque. The steps that leads to the eastern gateway has 35 steps,
to the northern gateway has 39 steps and to the southern gateway has 33
steps which are made of red sandstone. Out of the three gateways the eastern
gateway was used by emperors to enter the mosque and this gateway remains
closed during the weekdays. Today, the worshippers enter through this
gateway and on the occasion of the two annual Id festivals to mark the
end of Ramadan - Id-ul-fitr and Id-ul-Adha. There is also a fine view
of the Red Fort from the eastern gateway. The closet in the North gate
of the mosque contains a collection of Muhammad's relics - a copy of the
Quran written on deer skin., a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals
and foot prints installed in marble. The general public enter by either
this gateway or sought gate. Shoes should be removed. Shops, food
stalls and street entertainers used to occupy these steps.
Courtyard - The mosque is surrounded a red stone
square courtyard which can be reached from three gateways. The courtyard
of the mosque can hold 25,000 worshippers and occupies 408 square feet.
In the center of the courtyard has a large marble tank for devotees to
cleansing before they offering prayers in the mosque. Usually the courtyard
is crowded with tourists and birds. In front of it is a raised platform
called Dikka.
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