By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: Gateway of India and Bandra Worli Sea link are landmarks but Haji Ali Dargah is the Wonder of Mumbai situated about nearly half a kilometer away from the Lal Lajpatrai Raod, worli, in south Mumbai. This monument has been sentinel to the shores of Mumbai since a long time.
The website of Haji Ali Dargah claims that the structure was erected on a set of high rising rocks and was given its present day shape in the early 19th century after the Trust was legally formed as an entity in 1916.
One can reach the Dargah only through a narrow causeway that too at the time of low tide because high tide floods the causeway with stormy water.
Haji Ali Dargah at sunset. [Photo by poonomo]
The Iftar of Haji Ali is famous and the trust bears the expenses of daily iftar and dinner for nearly 500 people who visit the dargah daily in the month of Ramzan. So we decided to have an iftar in Haji Ali dargah. I along with my journalist friend reached the Haji Ali Dargah around 5.30 p.m. but my friend who was a TV reporter found it difficult to get along with camera and crew due to security reasons. But finally after some deliberations with the Trust’s and Police officer we got in.
As Dargahs are the example of communal harmony in India, Hindus, Muslims and the people of all other faith and dignitaries visits the Dargah. “Nearly 30 per cent of the visitors are our Non- Muslim brothers and sisters. Amitabh Bachchan Sahab, regularly comes here especially in the morning of Friday when his or his son’s film is going to release” said, Mohammed Ahmed, Administrative officer of the Dargah.
Trust hold Iftar party in every Ramzan but this year they are skipping it because most of the trustees are out of station. Manzar, a visitor in his early fifties said,” Iftar party here in Haji Ali Dargah is very well attended. Governor, Chief Minister, other ministers and film personalities, bureaucrats along with commoners attend the Iftar but this time we will miss it.”
After the Iftar we met Irfan, an electrician, in his forties who visits the dargah on every Thursday for iftar. “Visiting Haji Ali Dargah gives me ample strength to get back in to this competitive world and survive.” Irfan said.
The Trust is in a process of renovation of Haji Ali Dargah complex that includes dargah, a mosque and a passage. The construction plan is design and executed by Stockwel construction. Mohammed Ahmed, Administrative Officer said, “We have a budget of Rs.9 crore for the renovation without any government help. We will not be using cement and concrete but will be using only Marbles brought from Makran, Rajasthan- the place from where the stone of Taj Mahal was brought.”
The mosque is in a process of construction and the dargah will follow soon. “We have a plan to demolish the old tomb and to construct the new one from the marble so that we can save the structure from the rought weather of the sea” Mohammed Ahmed added.
We got to see the security concern here too. Metal detector doors at the main gate, patrolling of Police and a Police beat office just situated near the main entrance gate of the Dargah. “The trust of the dargah has taken security measures long time ago even before the blasts at Ajmer Sharif” Mohammed Ahmed explained he further added “We have 12 CC TV cameras working 24 hours a day in the whole complex.”
We left the dargah with the impression that it’s a marvel piece of construction. The trustee are getting it difficult to renovate it how was it be built in the 19th Century.
Link:
http://www.hajialidargah.in/