Firuz Shah Kotla, the 5th city of Delhi built by Firuz Shah Tughlaq is today known as the City of Djinns.
Every Thursday hordes of people come to pray to the resident Djinns and light lamps, incense sticks and offer rose petals. These are lit and offered in every nook and cranny of the huge complex. Now the palaces are no longer extant but there are ruins, underground rooms in the Mosque where once madarsas functioned and students lived and many cells in the Pyramidal structure built to house Ashoka’s Pillar. All the dark rooms always have lamp and incense sticks in them many with petitions or letters outlining the desires of the haajatmand.
Those whose mannats /wishes are fulfilled offer their grateful thanks by bringing and distributing huge deghs of zarda ( a sweet rice dish).
The best part is the sense of bonhomie and joy there. Very positive energy flowing all around. ASI has added to the joy by making entry on Thursday free after 2pm.
A pictoral tribute to one of the Thursday there.
The Pyramidal structure with Ashoka’s pillar which is where the Chief of Djinns resides and is called Laaat Waale Baba opposite the Jami Masjid
Offerings
Crowds waiting in line for the zarda and the functioning Jami Masjid there
There was a young Sufi from Kaliyar Sharif Dargah who was praying for others
The Jami Masjid where Timur offered prayers once and was so impressed that he ordered a similar one to be built in Samarqand and took artisans from India for the purpose
Arziyan – letters/peritions and flowers for mannats fulfilled
The baoli and Jami Masjid
Crowds waiting for the zarda distribution near the Masjid
Its a functioning mosque and we prayed Asar prayers there
People enjoying themselves on the top with eagles circling around
Amazing energy there
Amazing experience
Kifs enjoying a picnic with their family
The Grand Jami Masjid
A buzurg blessing people
More details can be found on an earlier blog
http://hazrat-e-dilli.com/how-ashokas-pillar-became-laat-waale-baba/
