Athar Jamad Masjid on Oppanakara Street and Town Hall road, Coimbatore is one of the oldest and biggest Masjids in Tamil Nadu. This historical mosque that silently witnessed the growth of this industrial city for centuries is believed to have been built by a migrant named Athar from Tirunelveli District. The main occupation of this merchant was selling perfumes commonly worn by the people. Since he was the major contributor, it carried the name Athar Jamad Masjid.
The work that earnestly began in 1860 was at last completed in 1904. Because of shortage of funds it took 44 years to complete the Masjid. For the construction of this mosque lime and mortar was used and for wall plastering ground lime mixed with egg white was used with a view to enhancing the shine on the wall. The mosque has open yard, a covered ablution pond and a kitchen. The kitchen is extensively used to prepare Nonbu Kanji (rice soup) in the time of fasting period during Ramzan month. This old mosque has two majestic minars with roofed domes on the northern and southern sides about 85 feet tall this majestic building dominate the shy line.
The fascinating feature about this place of worship is the presence of the tomb of Hazrat Jamesha Waliullah adjacent to the Mosque. He was holy Muslim preacher who died in 1850 and his tomb is now a small dargah on Big Bazaar Street - the southern side of the Masjid, and is worshiped by even
Non-Muslims. The land was donated before 1945 and this small durgah is visited by lots of people particularly to ward off the effects evil spirits by way of wearing colorful amulets around the neck.
This Masjid is believed to be the most visited Islamic place of veneration. Every Friday regularly 2000 plus worshipers turn up for Namaz - prayers. During Ramzan and Bakrid this Masjid is unusually overcrowded. This famous Masjid is being run by a Jamaat whose members are the descendants of 52 families from Tirunelveli who had settled down here way back in 1850. The Jaamat members are elected strictly on a democratic way and this system has been in vogue since 1920.
Ref:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athar_Jamad_Masjid
The work that earnestly began in 1860 was at last completed in 1904. Because of shortage of funds it took 44 years to complete the Masjid. For the construction of this mosque lime and mortar was used and for wall plastering ground lime mixed with egg white was used with a view to enhancing the shine on the wall. The mosque has open yard, a covered ablution pond and a kitchen. The kitchen is extensively used to prepare Nonbu Kanji (rice soup) in the time of fasting period during Ramzan month. This old mosque has two majestic minars with roofed domes on the northern and southern sides about 85 feet tall this majestic building dominate the shy line.
Athar Jamad Masjid, Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu. en.wikipedia.org |
Athar Jamad Masjid, Coimbatore. www.coimbatoreonline.in |
Ref:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athar_Jamad_Masjid