Nakhoda Mosque in Howrah
Howrah, the district of West Bengal, is nearly 300 years old with about 450 mosques between Ward 1 to Ward 141. This is because Muslims have been settling in Howrah from the beginning of the 19th century, but from it was from the 1860s that the community started expanding in the city.
The Nakhoda Masjid, one of the most popular mosques in Howrah, is situated in the commercial district of Burrabazar, at the crossing of Rabindra Sarani and Zakariya Street. The mosque is a sacred place where followers of Islam worship and perform Namaaz.
It is the place where religious concepts of Islam are practiced with great devotion and belief that God or “Allah” is one and omnipresent and the purpose of existence is to serve Him. The Arabian Peninsula is mainly the origin of mosques, but now they are established in all the Islamic and non-Islamic continents of the world.
Construction of the Nakhoda Mosque
This mosque was built as a replica of the mausoleum belonging to the famous Mughal Emperor called Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar located at Sikandra, Agra. This building was funded by a leader of the Memon Jamat community of Kutch, called Abdur Rahim Osman, who was also a shipping prince and that is why the building is named as Nakhoda which means Mariner.
On 11th of September, 1926 the first building stone was laid and approximately 1,500,000 of Indian rupees was expended on this huge historical premise.
On 11th of September, 1926 the first building stone was laid and approximately 1,500,000 of Indian rupees was expended on this huge historical premise.
Architecture of Nakhoda Mosque
Many mosques vary in their style of architecture, but the prayer halls, elaborate domes and minarets are very much common. Likewise, this Masjid also consists of two domes and three slender towers and a huge hall with the capacity of 10000 people to perform stupendous prayers at the time of ‘Namaaz’. Besides these, there are 25 small pillars with the length of approximately 100-117ft in height.
The entrance gate of the mosque is a substitute image of Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur Sikri. There is also an ablution pool for the devotees inside the mosque to take the sacred bath before or after the prayer. Granite stones from Tolepur were brought to build the gateway of this mosque.
Festivity at the Nakhoda Mosque
Muharram and Id are the most festive season for this huge built to get enveloped with decorative and dazzling lights and with the bustling of Muslim community situated in and around this area. Outside the mosque there are many shops which sell perfumes made from flowers and essential oils called “attar”.
There is a vast wholesale market near the building which deals with various commercial products. People from all over Howrah and outside come to shop as per their requirements.
Some of the other famous mosques in Howrah are the Tipu sultan mosque constructed by Prince Gulam Muhammad at Dharamtala street, Karbala Masjid at Manicktala, Hafiz Jalaluddin Muhammad mosque, The Rajabazar Barri Masjid, Masjid-e-Muhammadi in Park Circus.
Some of the other famous mosques in Howrah are the Tipu sultan mosque constructed by Prince Gulam Muhammad at Dharamtala street, Karbala Masjid at Manicktala, Hafiz Jalaluddin Muhammad mosque, The Rajabazar Barri Masjid, Masjid-e-Muhammadi in Park Circus.
The Tipu Sultan Masjid is located at 185, Dharamtalla Street with cultural and architectural heritage which was built in 1832 by the youngest son of Tipu Sultan.
Reach Nakhoda Mosque
Address: Address: 92, Rabindra sarani (near Nakhuda masjid), Kolkata, West Bengal 700073
Timings: 11 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Entry Fee: None
Timings: 11 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Entry Fee: None