This is the photo for my participation in the Skywatch Friday this week.
This photo is of one of the two towers of Masjid Agung Bandung (also called Masjid Raya Bandung Propinsi Jawa Barat) or Bandung Grand Mosque. This mosque is located on the West side of Alun-alun Bandung (Bandung City Square) on Asia Afrika Street.
Masjid Agung Bandung has a history as long as the city itself. According to historian Sobana Hardjasaputra of Padjadjaran University, the mosque was erected on September 25, 1810 (the date when the capital of Bandung Regency was relocated from Dayeuh Kolot [the old city] to the present location).
Over the years, the shape of the mosque have changed many times. The present shape is the result of the renovation conducted in 2001-2003.
I like the thought that a house of prayer is one of the first things built in the new city. One of these days, Eki, can you explain why mosques always have minarets? I've always wondered about that. It can't just be to call people to prayers, can it? Anyway, it's a lovely, peaceful shot.
ReplyDeletemohon maaf lahir batin n salam kenal
ReplyDeleteOh great, I am the first to share how much I love the compostion of this photograph EKI!!! IT's one of your best in my opinion. I love the simplicity of it. What a nice tribute to your religion and this special place.
ReplyDeleteHappy Eid for the other day, Eki. I only know how to say Eid mubarak in Arabic, I'm afraid, not Indonesian.
ReplyDeleteGood photo.
I like this combination of the house of prayer and light!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend.
It is very appealing, with the lights not overpowering the image.
ReplyDeleteThe minimal composition of this beautiful photo adds to the spiritual quality. It's just lovely, Eki.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful photo! Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHave a very nice weekend:)
It is such a striking image with the pinnacle of the Mosque reaching towards the sky. Marvellous image.
ReplyDeleteI like the color of the sky against the mosque..very beautiful..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot, Eki!
ReplyDeletebeautiful time of day...
ReplyDeleteVery nice shot! The street lights make good perspective.
ReplyDeleteDear Hilda,
ReplyDeleteIf I may answer your question -
As well as providing a visual cue to a Muslim community, the call to prayer is traditionally given from the top of the minaret. In some of the oldest mosques, such as the Great Mosque of Damascus, minarets originally served as watchtowers illuminated by torches (hence the derivation of the word from the Arabic nur, meaning "light"). In more recent times, the main function of the minaret was to provide a vantage point from which the muezzin can call out the adhan, calling the faithful to prayer.
In most modern Mosques, the adhan is called not in the minaret, but in the musallah, or prayer hall, via a microphone and speaker system. However, the minaret remains as an architect symbol for the mosque