The last place that I was very keen to visit for my Mumbai trip was the Dargah of Haji Ali, which is one of the most renowned religious places in Mumbai. The best feature of this religious site is that it is visited by devotees of all religions alike. The Haji Ali Dargah is considered to be one of the most prestigious and famous landmarks of India. It is situated at a distance of about 500 yards from the shoreline of Mumbai in the heart of the Arabian Sea off Lala Lajpat Marg.
This structure stands on a set of high rising rocks and acquires its present day form from the early years of the 19th century after the legal formation of the trust in the year 1916. Sentinel to the shores of Mumbai this monument houses the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who was a great Muslim saint. Moreover there is also a mosque at Haji Ali.
The white domes and minarets of the monument are symbolic of Muslim architectural style. The Dargah is a very famous site of pilgrimage for both Muslims as well as Non- Muslims. This is a clear depiction of religious tolerance and harmony which truly pictures the essence of unity in diversity of India. The Dargah is flooded by almost 10 to 15 thousand pilgrims on daily basis. On Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays this number increases to around twenty to thirty thousand visitors.
The pathway that leads to the Dargah complex gets transformed into a Sea of Humanity on the auspicious eve of Bakri Eid and Ramadan Eid when this monument witnesses lakhs of devotees assembled to seek the blessings from the holy sage Haji Ali. People from far off lands travel to this monument of pilgrimage in order to offer their token of gratitude and respect to the saint and with a hope to get their desires fulfilled. I was glad to find that this Dargah is crowded with people irrespective of the barriers of caste, creed or religion. Such unanimity was really a treat for my spirit.