Shinzo Abe visits Gujarat: Narendra Modi to accompany Japanese PM to Ahmedabad's iconic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe for dinner at the House of Mangaldas Girdhardas in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, the heads of state will visit a 16th Century mosque that has been receiving unprecedented attention this week. The 16th Century Sidi Saiyyed mosque, popularly known as Sidi Saiyyid ki Jaali, is located across the road from the venue for the state dinner. I also look forward to visiting the Sabarmati Ashram & the 'Sidi Saiyyid Ni Jaali’ with PM @AbeShinzo during his India visit. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 12, 2017 Modi will be taking the Abes on a tour around the mosque which is famed for its beautifully carved ten-stone latticework windows on the side and rear arches, Hindustan Times reported. Mosque officials said the Prime Minister’s Office sought details about the iconic mosque and its architecture, the report said. [caption id=“attachment_4038777” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The iconic ‘Tree of Life’ latticework in Sidi Saiyyed Mosque. Image courtesy: Gujarat Tourism[/caption] Rizwan Kadri, chairman of the Sunni Waqf Committee, said, “Modi wishes to explain the ancient history and the importance of the Sidi Saiyed mosque to Shinzo Abe himself. He wants to emphasise on what this monument means to the city and our country,” according to Ahmedabad Mirror. The report also quoted municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar as saying, “The prime minister will be visiting the Sidi Saiyyed mosque for the first time. There have been no high-level officials visiting the site in the recent past except by Irina Bokova, the director general of UNESCO, who was in the city recently to hand over the World Heritage City certificate to the chief minister.” The mosque, believed to have been built by Ethiopian Abyssinian Sidi Saiyed in 1572 during the reign of the last sultan of the Gujarat Sultanate Shamsud- Din Muzaffar Shah III, is one of the most prominent monuments of Ahmedabad. Considered an architectural masterpiece, portions of the structure have inspired many modern day designs. Its architecture is widely considered to be a testimony of cross culture heritage. The intricate “Tree of Life” lattice window in the mosque was adopted by Indian Institute of Management- Ahmedabad as its logo. The prime ministers are expected to pose for a photograph before it. PK Ghosh, head, Heritage Cell, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, remarking on its history, said, “The intricate windows that are now instantly recognisable are a fusion of Hindu and Muslim culture. While the Kalpavruksh depicts Hindu culture, the date palm is symbolic of Muslim heritage. When both of these merge in the “Tree of Life”, it shows the living heritage of this city.” According to the Gujarat Tourism’s online portal, these windows have become a symbol of Ahmedabad. “Depicting a tree with intertwining branches, the carvings look like fine lace filigree work, but are hewn from solid stone. Though much smaller than the Jama Masjid and lacking the enclosed courtyard, the craftsmanship of this mosque places it on a level nearly unequaled in the world,” the website says. According to Ahmedabad Mirror, the mosque was built in 1572, the last year of the Gujarat Sultanate. Emperor Akbar annexed Gujarat into the Mughal Empire the very next year. In light of Abe’s visit, visitors and media thronged the mosque on Tuesday night in large numbers, according to reports.

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Shinzo Abe visits Gujarat: Narendra Modi to accompany Japanese PM to Ahmedabad's iconic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

Modi will host his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to an exclusive dinner at the House of MG, after taking him around the 16th century Sidi Saiyyed mosque

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