Guntur’s oldest mosque all decked up for Eid

The mosque, constructed by Emperor Aurangzeb in the year 1674, is the oldest mosque of the city where people have been offering prayers five-times-a-day for the last 341 years. The mosque committee has been making all the arrangements for the Ramzan prayers at the historical mosque.

Such is the fame of the mosque that the street where it has stood for the last 341 years has also earned the name of Pedda Masjid Road. It is believed that Emperor Aurangzeb came to Guntur in 1674 to conquer the local kingdoms of South India. During his stay here, the emperor wished to construct a mosque. He ordered his physician Hazi Razak Baig to construct the mosque and to stay here to look after its maintenance.

The emperor, it is said, granted 350 acres of land to the mosque for maintenance purpose. Hazi Baig settled with his family beside the mosque and descendants of Hazi Razak Baig still look after the maintenance of the mosque.

The present Muttavali (caretaker) of the mosque, Rafi Baig, said that their family has been looking after the mosque's maintenance for three centuries now.

Mr Baig said that the mosque was built in an area of two acres with a burial ground and a house for the Muttavali.

The mosque, which was constructed with brick and mortar mixtures, never needed repair works in the last 341 years, added Mr Baig. Special Moghul designs of mango leaves in various shapes carved on the entrance structure and two tall minarets have stood strong for the past 341 years showing the craftsmanship of the architects.

Mr. Baig said that elaborate arrangements have been made for the Ramzan prayer on Saturday in which VIPs and others would participate. Similarly, mass Id-ul-Fitr prayer would be held at Idgahs at Ponnur Road and Brodipeta.

Besides this, Id-ul-fitr prayers would also be held in nearly 200 mosques of the city on Saturday.