In Pictures: Jama Masjid Comes Alive with Ramzan Fervour

The lanes leading towards Jama Masjid are crowded and the air is filled with a delicious aroma.

A man sits at Jama Masjid.

(Photo: Danish Qazi)

Ramzan, the ‘holy’ month of fasting is the most important period in the Islamic calendar. It is believed that observing a month of fasting from dawn to dusk brings one closer to god.

During Ramzan, the areas surrounding Delhi’s iconic Jama Masjid come alive at night.

Crowds throng to local eateries during sehri at Jama Masjid.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

Street vendors sell the Ramzan special delicacy siwaye outside Jama Masjid.  (Photo: Danish Qazi)

(Photo: Danish Qazi)

Eateries remain open till dawn, and people from across Delhi visit the bylanes of the old city, to take in the fervour of Ramzaan.

Devotees offering the morning prayer or ‘fajr namaaz’.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

Decorated streets bustling with people during Ramzan opposite Jama Masjid.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

Although the shops are shut after the morning prayer, some prefer to spend a few minutes of quiet time inside the mosque even after the prayers are over, for they believe that the Jama Masjid brings peace and solace to the ones sitting there.

People rest around the pool after ‘Fajr Namaaz’.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

A woman and her child wait at a sweet shop.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

A man reads a newspaper outside one of the many eateries that are open well into the wee hours.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

For the young ones, Ramzaan means a few extra hours of fun.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

The Jama Masjid in all its glory at the break of dawn.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

The festivity is palpable as the day starts at dawn with people offering the morning prayer or ‘Fajr Namaaz’ and having the morning meal or sehri ahead of a full day of fasting, only to be broken at dusk during iftaar.

  A child running to the mosque to offer Fajr Namaz.  (Photo: Danish Qazi)

Children playing late at night(Photo: Danish Qazi)

  Children running inside the Jama Masjid compound. (Photo: Danish Qazi)

The empty streets post the morning namaaz and sehri.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

Children playing gully cricket outside Jama Masjid at dawn.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

The excitement starts after midnight. The streets are decorated with silver buntings and orange lamps. The lanes leading towards the mosque remain crowded and the air is filled with a delicious aroma, that is typical to the special month of Ramzan.

A myriad of colours and aromas come together as people prepare for the morning meal ahead of a full day of fasting.(Photo: Danish Qazi)

Most agree that the charm of Ramadan’s culinary treats are best enjoyed on the street corners with friends, over a dose of noisy chatter and the hustle and bustle of the street.