Dhaka

Historical Masjid at Goaldi and Langalbanh Ghat

Goaldi masjid- view north west

Masjid is protected one- not open for prayer

(pic credit: sourav)

mihrab inside

outside wall- intricate decorations in terr-cotta of hanging lamp and flower

view of a nearby masjid

Jatrabari area

Auto-rickshaw loaded with ripe Jackfruit for market

branch of Brahmaputra river at Langalbandh. Bridge (Dhaka-Chittagong highway) seen in the background

Rajghat of Langalbandh

bathing scene of astami snan by hindu devotees at Langalbandh (pic: daily star)

Sitalakkha river, Narayanganj

Historical Masjid at Goaldi:

One of the very few surviving medieval monuments. During the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah in 925 Hijri (1519AD) Mulla Hizabar Akbar Khan built this beautiful single dome mosque at a place Goaldi- half a mile northeast of Painam village in Sonargaon. The west wall (‘qibla’) of the masjid has three ‘mihrabs’- the central mihrab of black basalt which was a common practice during the sixteenth century. The masjid is decorated with arabeques patterns of ornamental terra-cotta of hanging lamp motif.

Dr. Ahmed Hasan Dani a noted historian of the sub-continent during his visit in the 1950’s found the masjid in ruinous state with the mihrab wall standing hidden behind clusters of trees and jungles. Careful restoration work by the Department of Archaeology and Museums later brought this masjid to resemble its original design. The masjid is a protected one and not open for prayer. Dr. Dani in his book also mentioned about existence of another masjid in the village built in 1704AD during the period of Aurangzeb.

Langalbandh:

On way to Mograpara from Dhaka along Dhaka-Chittagong highway, a few kilometers off Sitalakkha bridge, a street offshoots on the right that leads to a place Langalbandh (about 27 km east from Dhaka) noted as holy place to the Hindu community. On the last day of Chaittra (last month of bangla calendar - mid April) Hindu devotees gather there in large number to take holy dip in the river which is a branch of Brahmaputra. The annual bathing festival observed with attractive mela every year. Devotees dip in the river to ceremonially clean themselves of all sins.