A Visit to Haji Ali

Dear Pioneers,

Judging from the last mail responses, I quite felt that nobody is interested anymore in my travelogues. But Folks, writing and watching movies are my only creative pastime now a days so please bear with me.

I visited Haaji Ali in Mumbai on my first outing. About Haji Ali Dargah
The Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431 in memory of a rich Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who gave up all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hailing from Bukhara, in the ancient Persian Empire and now in Uzbekistan, Bukhari travelled around the world in the early to mid 1400s, and then settled in Mumbai.

As per the legends, surrounding his life, once the Saint saw a poor woman crying on the road, holding an empty vessel. He asked her what the problem was. She sobbed that that her husband would thrash her since she had stumbled and accidentally spilled the oil she was carrying. He asked her to take him to the spot where she lost the oil. There, he jabbed a finger into the soil and the oil gushed out. The overjoyed woman filled up the vessel and went home.

Later, Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari had a recurring - and disturbing - dream that he had injured Mother Earth by his act. Full of remorse, he soon fell ill and directed his followers to cast the coffin carrying his body into the Arabian Sea, once he died. Haji Ali left this world during his journey to Mecca and miraculously the casket carrying his body, floated back to these shores, getting stuck in the string of rocky islets just off the shore of Worli. Thus, the Dargah was constructed there.

On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by at least 40,000 pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the 'dargah' to get the blessings of the legendary saint. Sometimes, especially on Fridays, people may find various sufi musicians performing a form of devotional music called “kawwaali” at the Dargah. (courtesy: Wikipedia).

You may recognize Haaji Ali if you had seen the movie fiza and the famous song "pia haaji ali" composed by AR Rahman. I always wanted to go there after seeing that movie. Actually the Dargah has been built somewhat inside the sea along with one concrete road connecting to it through the sea. Folks, the walk through that pathway is a lifetime experience...waves will be shattering from both sides of the walkway washing away the dirt of our legs...people from all religion, caste, community will be present to ask for their mannat with Allah renditions in the background. Go on a weekend if you love sufi music, you can hear raw sufi music which for me was enthralling and mesmerizing...

This place will not be there in any tourist spot guides...but my dear friends...if you are a jaywalker like me...who doesn't stick on to the rules...go to places like this...Its worth for a lifetime..

love,

Das