Mecca Clock Tower replica a huge draw

Yakutpura: With each passing year, the celebrations of Milad-un-Nabi touches a new grandiose, with artists trying their hands to come up with new replicas of Holy Mosques of Mecca and Madina, and other important religious sites. This year, Ghulamane Mustafa Committee came up with a model of world’s tallest clock tower near Kaaba in Mecca, the holiest place of Muslims.

The biggest clock tower in the world, which has become one of the most fascinating objects seen behind the Kaaba during holy visit, has inspired the artists this time around. The model has become the most alluring of various replicas in Bada Bazar of Yakutpura. The junction, where it is displayed, is named after the devout ‘Omer Farooq,’ one of the four caliphs of Islam. The other three junctions are also named after the other three caliphs. “The committees at Yakutpura have named junctions after Caliphs, which start from Bada Bazar in Yakutpura up to Etebar Chowk. Caliph Abu Bakr chowk, Caliph Omer Farooq chowk, Caliph Osman chowk and Caliph Ali Chowk are also the names of the streets. The committees decorated the whole area of Yakutpura with different types of lights and flags, and the last committee of Caliph Ali chowk was decorated with the colorful cloths. An exhibition of Islamic relics and structures is displayed there,” said Khaja Pasha Chowdry, Committee’s president.

This is the 15th year that the committee is coming up with different models of Islamic holy sites and has decided to design the biggest clock tower. Amongst other replicas -- Gumbad-e-Khizra (green-colored dome built above the tomb of the prophet Mohammed), which is present in Madina, Saudi Arabia, along with its white domes and the umbrellas (movable) that are present across the Gumbad-e-Khizra and second holiest mosque in Madina. Another structure that attracts the attention of the onlookers is the huge blossoming flower, which retreats itself into a bud and a moon. There are a total of eight models with complete decoration that are in display. Besides the eight models, Aasar-e-Mubarak (relics) will be displayed near Yakut Mahal Talkies on November 20 and 21. “This committee decorates the model structure with the contributions from only committee members. No other organization or political funds are allowed” he added.

The decoration of Yakutpura on the occasion of Eid-Milad-un-Nabi is famous across the city. Thousands of people visit from faraway areas, irrespective of religion and caste. The decoration starts at Yakutpura’s Bada Bazar to Masjid-e-Lashkar-Jung, in Etebar Chowk. The complete area can be seen covered in decoration under full beaming lights. “The exhibition of Islamic relics and models of holy sites are displayed by all the four committees, Khaja said. Eid-Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated across the city on a grand note by decorating important junctions. On the day of celebrations, huge rallies are taken up, besides grand public meetings. Visitors to these replicas are also treated with refreshments like juices, sweets, ice creams.