After weighing, dismissing and weighing again several proposals, the government is now considering building a Y-shaped flyover on the Haji Ali junction to decongest it.

The state government’s empowered committee on infrastructure recently directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to vet the new plan along with the traffic police before the committee takes it up for serious discussion.

The proposal involves constructing a flyover over Pedder Road, with one arm going towards Tardeo and another towards Worli. Senior government officials, on condition of anonymity, said the plan was put forward by architect and empowered committee member Shivjit Sidhu.

Whether approved or not, this is not the only plan for the much-discussed junction. The MSRDC’s decade-old Pedder Road flyover is still in the pipeline. And the contract for the construction of the Worli-Haji Ali sea link has already been awarded to a Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium.

Apart from this, the state government has also set up a committee, headed by municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar, to study a coastal road for Mumbai. The road is to be constructed in parts by reclaiming land and in parts on stilts.

As the last scaffold covering its walls is dismantled, Haji Ali dargah’s gleaming new minaret can be seen in its entirety for the first time. A towering 99 metres, representing the different names of Allah, the minaret is the first structure to be completed as part of the plan to reconstruct the shrine completely in marble.

Floral designs in inlay skirt the lower part of the tower and ‘jali’ or lattice work covers the upper levels. The round balcony at the top, which can be reached by climbing the spiral stair with 113 steps, is crowned with a cupola held by pillars.

Since there are few artisans in Mumbai who can work in marble, workers were brought in from Makrana. Even the inlay designs in semi-precious stones like moonga (coral) and firuza (turquoise) are being done by artists from Rajasthan.
After the minaret, the mosque will be next structure to be rebuilt. The pillars have been completed. The dargah that holds the tomb of the saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari will be constructed next, followed by the office building and dormitory. The project is expected to cost Rs10 crores.

Though the shrine is believed to date back to the 16th century, the present structure was built in the 19th century. But the reinforced concrete and plaster buildings deteriorated in the salt laden air. When reconstruction work was started 18 months ago, the minaret was in danger of toppling down.

URS:

The URS (Death Anniversary) of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari (R.A.) is on the 16th of (Rabi-ul-Aakhir / Rabi-al-Thaany) (17th Shab). The Trust as per it’s objects performs all necessary rituals as per Islamic traditions and distributes Niyaaz (Food / Sweets) to all devotees, visitors and fakirs.

A special program of Milad and prayers is held on the 16th of every Islamic Month after Namaaz-e-Isha (17th Shab) in remembrance of the URS of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari (R.A.). The Trust distributes Niyaaz to all present.

Eid-E-Milad-un-Nabi:

In celebration of Eid-E-Milad-un-Nabi – 12th Rabi-al Awal (Birth Anniversary of Prophet Mohamed (S.A.W.S.), the Trust organizes a function for viewing the sacred relics of Prophet Mohamed (S.A.W.S.) post Namaaz-e-Zuhr. Prayers are recited (Fateha) at sunset (Maghrib) and Niyaaz is distributed.

The Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431 in memory of a rich Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari (R.A.), who gave up all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hailing from Bukhara, in the ancient Persian Empire and now in Uzbekistan, Bukhari travelled around the world in the early to mid 15th century, and then settled in Mumbai.

Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari (R.A.) had a recurring – and disturbing – dream that he had injured Earth by his act. Full of remorse, he soon fell ill and directed his followers to cast the coffin carrying his body into the Arabian Sea, once he died. Haji Ali left this world during his journey to Mecca and miraculously the casket carrying his body, floated back to these shores, getting stuck in the string of rocky islets just off the shore of Worli. Thus, the Dargah was constructed there.

On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by at least 40,000 pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the ‘dargah’ to get the blessings of the legendary saint. Sometimes, especially on Fridays, people may find various sufi musicians performing a form of devotional music called Qawwali at the Dargah.

Music By A. R. Rahman, Anu Malik
Lyrics By Shaukat Ali, Tejpal Kaur, Gulzar, Sameer
Performed by A. R. Rehman, Srinivas

piya haji ali

khuda apne valiyon se hota hai raazi
milegi ye dar se hamein sarfaraazi
yahaan dil se maango ye haaji ali hain
khuda ke vali hain

shaah-e-samandar ibn-e-haidar
shah-e-samandar ik nazar
piya haaji ali, piya haaji ali, piya haaji ali, piya ho -2
tum samandar ke dhani
baaba haaji ali baaba haaji ali baaba haaji ali
tum samandar ke dhani
baba haaji ali, baba haaji ali,
hai tumhara dar dar mustafa dar murtaza marhaba
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho -2

noor vaale noor vaale
bhole-bhaale bhole-bhaale
noor vaale noor vaale
saaya sab pe daal de
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho -2
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali -2

yahaan hindu muslim sikh isaai faiz paate hain -2
ye samandar roz dar pe deta hai pehra
hai saraapa noor vaala aapka chehra
piya haaji ali, piya haaji ali, piya haaji ali, piya ho -2

do mohammad mustafa ke naam ka sadka
de do naam ka sadka
do mohammad mustafa ke naam ka sadka
de do naam ka sadka

koi bhi maayoos is dar se nahin lauta
baaba koi nahin lauta
kiske dil mein kya chhupa hai sab tumhein maaloom hai -2
aapke faiz-o-karam bhi arsh par bhi dhoom hai
baaba haaji ali baaba haaji ali

suno ham gareebon ki iltija ham par karam keeje
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho -2
aap par saari khudaai naaz karti hai
baaba naaz karati hai
bigadi kismat aapke dar par sanvarati hai
are qismat sanvarati hai
jab talak ummeed meri bar na aayegi -2
zindagi dehleez par aansu bahaayegi
baaba haaji ali baaba haaji ali
baaba jo bhi aapka ho chuka use kya gumaan hoga

piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho -2
haaji ali
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho
piya
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho
haaji ali
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho -2
haaji ali
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho
ali
piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya haaji ali piya ho

Decks have been cleared for the restoration work of one of the city’s most famous landmarks in the Arabian Sea-the 400-year-old Haji Ali Dargah. The Bombay high court earlier this week declined to entertain a public interest litigation challenging the Rs 9-crore restoration work.

The PIL was filed by city-based advocate Sana Baugwala, who claimed various violations in law and sought a halt to the restoration work.

Baugwala alleged that no permission had been taken from the charity commissioner before commencing the work. The advocate said this was a violation of the Bombay Public Trust Act.

The petitioner also raised questions about the huge expenses to be incurred on the renovation work, which she said “could have been used for some good social cause”.

The state was represented by assistant government pleader Milind More who opposed the PIL.

According the restoration plans drawn up by the trust which manages the dargah, nearly 35,000 square feet of Makrana marble will be used-the same kind that was used in the construction of the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The Haji Ali Mosque is situated on an islet near the coast of Worli in Mumbai.
Despite the fact that this structure is a mosque and dargah, it is extremely famous amongst the Hindu population in Mumbai, Maharashtra and South Gujarat.

Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most popular religious places in Mumbai, visited by Hindus and Muslims alike. It is basically the tomb of Haji Ali, a wealthy merchant who renounced all the worldly possessions and became a saint, after he returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Along with the tomb, there is also a mosque at Haji Ali. There are two different accounts of how the tomb of Haji Ali came into being. As per one version, the saint drowned in the sea and his devotees built a tomb at the spot where he died.

Another version goes that Haji Ali died on his pilgrimage to Mecca and his body was put in a casket. The casket is said to have floated back to Bombay, stopping near the rock bed on the sea here. The place where his casket was found later served as the venue of his dargah (tomb), built by his devotees. Haji Ali Dargah is situated on an islet, in the middle of Worli Bay, located off the coast of Worli. It is visited by a large number of devotes every day. The rush particularly swells on Thursdays and Fridays.

It is a common belief among people that if one pray’s at this durgah, his/her wishes are fulfilled. This mosque is controlled by the Sunni Barelvi Movement of India. The mosque is spread over an area of 4,500 meters.

There is an 85 foot high tower. The tomb in the mosque has a red and green brocaded tomb cover sheet and an impressive silver frame. The main hall has some marble pillars that are decorated with yellow, green and blue mirror chips.

Haji Ali is a venerated tomb (dargah) of the Muslims. Not only from Mumbai, people from all parts of India come to pay homage to this mosque. Located on an island off the shoreline of Worli, Haji Ali Mosque looks stunning amidst the blue waters of the sea. It also makes the most popular landmark of Bombay. In 1431, the mosque was built by Haji Ali – a rich Muslim merchant, who gave up all worldly charms before going to the pilgrimage of Mecca.

As per the legends, Haji Ali left this world during his journey to Mecca and a coffer carrying his body hovered back to Mumbai. Other stories state that the great saint drowned at the place, where the mosque stands at present. On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by at least 40,000 pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the ‘dargah’ to get the blessings of the legendary saint.

The edifice is a brilliant specimen of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. Built on a small island, the mosque is sited about 500 yards from the shoreline, in the middle of Worli Bay. This island is connected to the Mahalakshmi area by a narrow walkway, which is not even constrained by railings and is prone to sea waters during high-tide. Consequently, you can reach the mosque only during low-tides.

The walkway, offering 500-yard-walk, is the highlight of this expedition, where the touch of cool waters and pleasing breeze altogether will make this a divine experience. Sprawling in an area of 4,500 meters, Haji Ali Dargah has a tomb that is always covered with a brocaded red and green sheet, supported by a delicate silver frame. The marble pillars inside the main hall are decorated with multihued mirrors and embrace the ninety-nine names of Allah.

Money was stolen from a public donation box at the Haji Ali  dargah  in south Mumbai .

“A public donation box kept at the entrance of the road leading to the dargah was broken by some miscreants on Friday night and it was reported to the police on Saturday,”According to police official from the Tardeo police station.

The dargah is built on a tiny islet located 500 yards from the coast, in the middle of Worli Bay, in the vicinity of Worli. The islet is linked to the city precinct of Mahalakshmi by a narrow causeway. This causeway is not bound by railings, and is lashed by the sea during high-tide. Therefore, the dargah is accessible only during low tide. This 500-yard-walk on the causeway, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of a trip to the shrine.

The whitewashed structure occupies an area of 4,500 metres, and an 85 foot (26 m) tower is the architectural highlight of the edifice. The tomb within the mosque is covered by a brocaded red and green chaddar (tomb cover sheet). It is supported by an exquisite silver frame. The main hall has marble pillars embellished with coloured mirror work: blue, green, yellow chips. The ninety-nine names of Allah are also written on the pillar