Jama Masjid in Delhi

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Jama Masjid is located in a very busy and commercial area of Old Delhi known as Chandni Chowk. The mosque is commonly known as Jama Masjid but its actual name is Masjid-I-Jahan-Numa. Constructed by the great Mogul emperor Shah Jahan, the mosque holds a lot of prominence for Muslims. It is the largest mosque in India. Jama Masjid is located just opposite Red Fort, where lies the throne of Shah Jahan.

Masjid-I-Jahan-Numa literally means "the Mosque commanding the view of the world", as it is built on a raised pedestal. It is commonly referred as Jama Masjid because of the weekly congregation held here on Friday. The courtyard of the mosque is massive and can hold up to 25,000 devotees at a time.

The outer side of the Jama Masjid is lined by shops selling various objects and food items specific to Muslim lifestyle. During the days of Ramzaan or the fast observed by Muslims, the area around Jama Masjid is bustling with shops selling delicious food items consumed for breaking the fast in the evening.

People come from far and wide to offer Namaaz or prayer in the mosque during Ramzaan days. The place has got lot of sanctity. The main Imam or the priest of the mosque is the direct descendant of the first priest appointed by Emperor Shah Jahan.

Non Muslim visitors are not allowed inside the mosque during the prayer hours. All visitors are requested to enter the mosque with covered head.

The Architecture of Jama Masjid

The main architect of the mosque was Nur Allah Ahmed. The construction of the mosque took place in 1650 and was completed in 1656. Like other Mughul structures, Jama Masjid has got a distinct structure. It took 5,000 artisans to make this beautiful structure out of red sandstone and marble. Shah Jahan spent Rs 10,000 Lakhs on the construction of this Mosque. He made similar mosques in other cities like Agra, Lahore and Ajmer but Masjid-I-Jahan-Numa is the best among all.

As the name suggests, the mosque is meant to have a commanding view of the world and thus, it is situated on an elevated platform about 30 feet high from the ground. The mosque can be entered from three sides by the help of stairs. There is a central hall where people assemble for the prayer. The mosque has 15 domes out of which 3 front domes are lofty in size. The top most of these three domes is covered with gold and the facade is done in alternate stripes of white and black marble. The domes are supported by 260 pillars carved with Hindu and Muslim form of art.

Jama Masjid is one of the last architectural works of Shah Jahan and also one of the best. The mosque is a revered place of worship for Muslims and also an architectural marvel that tells the story of Mogul grandeur.

Old Delhi has lots of structures that can be traced back to the Mogul era. Out of these, Jama Masjid is the greatest and most religious of all the spots.