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Idgah at Qutub Shahi Tombs restored
The 50,000-odd people, who would gather at the Idgah inside the Qutub Shahi Tombs plaza for the Eid-ul-Adha namaz are in for an ethereal experience a la dating back to the days of yore. It is for the first time that they would be greeted with a spotless Idgah done up in ornate stucco plaster patterns.
It is after 400 years that the Idgah gets a fresh look, thanks to the restoration being done by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture
The 50,000-odd people, who would gather at the Idgah inside the Qutub Shahi Tombs plaza for the Eid-ul-Adha namaz are in for an ethereal experience a la dating back to the days of yore. It is for the first time that they would be greeted with a spotless Idgah done up in ornate stucco plaster patterns.
Over the years, the 16th century Idgah got covered with layers of paint and the intricate work almost lost in the garish colours. The minarets and the turrets on either side, too, had faded and were falling apart. Usually the State Archaeology department gives the Idgah a whitewash every year before Eid but it is for the first time that work on limestone has been completed.
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Thanks to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture which has undertaken the restoration project (The restoration of 72 monuments would be completed in 10 years and Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the project) the Idgah has been restored to its past glory. Ratish Nanda, project director, Aga Khan Trust for Culture said, “The Idgah is ready and work on other monuments, too, is going on at brisk pace.”
Craftsmen from Rajasthan who specialise in lime plaster have been working for over six months, diligently replacing the cement with lime plaster. The destruction caused by humans and the vagaries of nature have taken a toll, all the damage had to be undone.
Ali, a resident of Toli Chowki said, “Offering prayers against the tombs scattered all around especially when they are restored would take one back in time. I am looking forward to this Eid.” The flower designs and craftsmanship bear Turkish and Iranian influence.
P Anuradha Reddy, co-convenor, INTACH, Telangana says, “It is the best thing to have happened. After the Humayun’s Tomb was restored in Delhi tourism has taken off to new levels, one only hopes it happens here as well.” The Idgah is just a small part of the necropolis which includes 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, six step wells, pavilions and gardens. Rahman, a resident of Golconda says, “It is beautiful to just be there amidst these monuments and the Eid prayers just make the experience even more wonderful.”
By:T P Venu
