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.

Muslims in the city are up in arms against the proposed landing of the Worli-Haji Ali sea link near the shrine of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

Amin Patel, the Congress MLA from Mumbadevi, said that as per the plan, the bridge will come towards Haji Ali in C shape and land right next to the pathway leading to the dargah.

The shrine is one of Mumbai’s most well-known landmarks and visited by people of all religions, who consider it as a repository of miraculous powers, like the Siddhivinayak temple at Prabhadevi and the Mount Mary Church at Bandra.

Everyday, an estimated 15,000 people visit the dargah, which is about 500 yards from the coast and becomes visible as one enters Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, which links Haji Ali and Worli.

“The sea-link will mar the beauty of the dargah that stands so majestically in the middle of the sea. It will hurt the religious sentiments of Indians,” said Patel, who has sought a change in the design of the sea link extension. He expressed concern that the location of the landing could result in chaos and accidents.

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 does not discriminate between any religion and caste. Thus in spite of it being a Muslim shrine, people of all beliefs, religions and coming from all strata of society are found here. It is the faith of these people that bring them here.

The holy Haji Ali Dargah has a yard which is filled with people, busy soothing their parched throats and having snacks. The soft wind blowing in your face in the serene surroundings of the dargah leave you with a heavenly feel. The dargah is crowded with people every Thursday and Friday. The places where men and women sit in the dargah are demarcated from each other. This is according to the Muslim customs and beliefs.

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

The blame game has begun over the traffic snarls at the Haji Ali junction. A day after the traffic police blamed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the traffic woes; the civic body has shot back.

Corporation officials claim that the traffic snarls are because of the traffic diversion of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and not due to their own works.

The BMC’s road development department has also alleged that the traffic police are trying to divert attention from the series of accidents on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and thus are blaming the civic body for the traffic mess at the Haji Ali junction.

At least 500 people have been stranded in Haji Ali Dargah as 800 metre long way leading to it has been submerged.

According to the report, the way leading came under deep water due to incessant rains. It is worth mentioning that Met department has sounded alert for high tide.

The officials have expressed fear of High Tide at 1.23 pm today. The met officials have advised people not to visit coasts in this duration.

Issuing a warning, the met department has said that if rain continues for the next three days, people should not visit coasts. The advertisements are being published in the newspapers to make people alert about it.

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.