Thazhathangady Juma Masjid: An Ancient Mosque with Rich Heritage and Kerala-style Architecture
The old Thazhathangady Juma Masjid is the oldest mosque of its kind, standing on the banks of Meenachil River in Kottayam, Kerala. Being the oldest among others, its beauty goes beyond any one’s thoughts about history or faith. As old as history is, its splendor cannot be missed, just as it speaks not only for historical and religious value but for the architectural taste also.
In addition to holding a religious value as a worship place, Thazhathangady Juma Masjid is an extraordinary example of architecture in the traditional Kerala style, which exhibits exquisite woodwork, minute carvings, and aesthetic excellence rooted in local culture yet blended with elements from Islamic design. It is a very important landmark that represents the long-standing cultural exchanges between Kerala and the Islamic world, and it continues to be a place of worship and community for Muslims in the region.
Historical Significance of Thazhathangady Juma Masjid
Thazhathangady Juma Masjid is said to have its establishment in the 12th Century all poised to be one of the ancient mosques in India an amazing testimony to Islamic culture ever since the start of Islam in this region, which apparently prospered from the 7th Century, thanks to the arrival of Arab merchants. These Arab merchants, who professed Islamic faith, had embarked on the Malabar Coast in today’s Kerala merely for trade but purposefully played the role of propagating Islam in the region. Thazhathangady, raised along the banks of the Meenachil river, was a spot identified to put up a mosque that served as a worship space and the heart of developing Muslim community.
This mosque, much changed over the years but still bearing the echoes of years past, is steeped in history and heritage critical for both followers of Islam in the region and Kerala as a testimonial for her places of worship with historic significance. Over the years it served as an important spiritual sanctuary for the local Muslim community, where, in prayers and contemplation, Islamic rites both in word and in deed were taught from one generation to the other.