WHEN THE DUSK DAWNS AT THE JAMI MASJID DURING THE RAMADAN, the congregational mosque—the crown jewel of the 17th century Mughal city Shahjahanabad—becomes brighter, livelier, and warmer.
Also known as Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa ('mosque commanding view of the world'), it was literally built on highest point in the city then and formed the largest mosque in the Mughal Empire.
The area around the mosque has always been teeming with layers of livelihoods, habitations and commercial activities besides cultures and cuisines.
Apparently built by 5000 masons working daily for a period of 6 years (1650-56), the mosque was located at an angle between the two main streets of Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s capital—the first running from Lahori Gate (main public entrance now) of the Qila-i Mubarak (Red Fort) through the Urdu Bazar and Chandni Chowk & Jauhari Bazar to Fatehpuri mosque.
The second bazar called the Faiz Bazar (‘Bazar of Plenty’) connecting Akbarabadi Gate (Delhi Gate) of the Red Fort to the Akbarabadi Gate of the city (Delhi Gate) now forms the present day Daryaganj. Both streets were lined with a canal known as the Nahar-i-bahist (the ‘Stream of Paradise’) shaded trees and the life around.
There was a third bazar connecting the Jami Masjid and the palace-fort which was inhabited by dancing girls, medicine men, jugglers, story tellers, and astrologers.
