Eidgahs(Idgahs) of Mughal Era

Agra Eidgah

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Much has been written about Mughal Emperors for erecting splendid mosques, forts, palaces, mausoleums and gardens. One of the wonders of the world, Taj Mahal at Agra stands as the most delicate and refined example of Mughal architecture. However, Eidgahs or Idgahs built during the Mughal period have failed to earn the attention of historians and most of them remain unknown, except the Shahi Idgah of Mathura. It is well-known as it was erected by Emperor Aurangzeb on a portion of Shri Krishna Janambhumi temple and BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders use it during elections to bring non- Muslim voters to their fold. Other Eidgahs built by Mughal kings and their nobles remained unheard as they are used only twice a year-Id –ul- Fitr and Id- ul- Adha.

The founder of the dynasty, Babur had built an Eidgah at Kabul in Afghanistan. Though in several accounts it is reported to be commissioned by Babur but another legend puts Babur’s great grandson Jahangir as its original builder. He was appointed as governor  of Kabul by his father  Emperor Akbar and it is believed that he had used local quarries and materials for co9nstruction of Eidgah mosque. However there is no controversy with regard to the existing grandeur of the mosque as a result of renovation work carried out by King Abdur Rahim Khan in 1893 or before. Idgah Mosque reflects the rich Islamic architecture and attracts visitors in large number. The Eidgah is painted in beige and white and has four minarets. The courtyard area is capable of holding accommodating thousands of devotees for Eid prayers.

Babur’s son Humayun did not erect any Eidgah because of fluctuating fortunes. His son and the greatest among the Mughal Monarchs, Akbar, is reported to have erected an Eidgah in Fatehpur Sikri. There is nothing on record to suggest that Jahangir, son of Akbar, built any Eidgah during his rule as King of Hindustan. His son Shahjahan however is often credited with commissioning an Eidgah in Agra in just forty days. Because of this structure, Agra possesses Eidgah railway station and bus stand. Agra Eidgah is an attractive specimen of Mughal architecture as compared to other popular Eidgahs in India and her neigh boring countries. It is  a tall and  long Qibla wall with arched niches. It looks like a Mughal style mosque with prayer hall and is set at the end of a large walled garden.

The next best Mughal Eidgah is of course in Dhanmandi locality of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Eidgah was constructed by Mir Abul Qasim, Dewan under instructions from Prince Shah Shuja, governor of Bengal and second son of Shahjahan. This beautiful Eidgah has been in use for Eid festivities since its commissioning in 1640 AD. Noted conservationist architect Abu Saeed M Ahmed has written “Dhanmandi Eidgah is the oldest surviving Mughal monument in Dhaka city. There is no second one with the architectural forms and features similar to it."

Among Mughal Emperors, Aurangzeb, has to his credit the commissioning of maximum number of Eidgahs. History records him as an orthodox emperor hence, he focused more on the4 construction of Mosques and Eidgahs. Apart from Mathura, he also commissioned Eidgahs in Delhi and Bijapur. When Aurangzeb ascended throne in 1658, he decided to erect a large Eidgah on the outskirts of Delhi. He considered  its erection essential because of the existence of Akbar’s Eidgah in Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Eidgah that Shah Jahan had built in 40 days and where he himself had offered namaz as a prince. Delhi Eidgah is a large square enclosure built in 1682  as a gathering place for Muslims on important days such as Eid. He built it on a area of 31,484 sq yards, surrounded by thousands of sq yards opn grounds where devotees could offer Eid prayers in large number. The main gate at the front side has also two small gates the entrance and exit of the devotees. The same pattern is followed on the north and south sides of the Eidgah. The complex is one of its own kind in Asia and Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad had taken personal interest to save its open grounds from encroachment.

Similarly when Aurangzeb seized Bijapur and found that there was no proper Eidgah, he commissioned one and it is known as Aurangzeb Eidgah in Bijapur even today. Another significant Eidgah of Mughal period is is in Multan (Pakistan) and it is called as    Shahi Eidgah Masjid. No Emperor or prince was behind its commissioning. It was erected in 1735 AD by Nawab Abdul Samad Khan, the governor of Multan. It is a very spacious mosque with a vast courtyard and a huge prayer chamber measuring two hundred and fifty feet long and fifty-four feet broad crowned by seven domes.

Eidgah or Idgah is the term used in South Asia for the open-air gathering place, usually outside the city or at the outskirts to offer Eid prayers. It was a practice of Prophet Muhammad to perform the Eid prayer in an open space on the outskirts of the city. Hence, it is considered Sunnah to offer Namaz-E-Eid at an  Eidgah. The first Eidgah was erected at the outskirts of Medina and it was about 1,000 footsteps away from Masjid-e-Nabuwi.(References available on request).

Kabul Eidgah