1000-year-old Kerala mosque allows women to enter its portals

For the first time in its history, women were allowed to enter the Juma Masjid on Sunday to take a look at its famed architecture.

In a first, the 1000-year-old mosque at Thazhathangady in Kerala’s Kottayam district has thrown open its doors for Muslim women in Kerala.

For the first time in its history, women were allowed to enter the Juma Masjid in Kerala on Sunday to take a look at its famed architecture. (HT File Photo)

Women were allowed to enter the mosque on Sunday to take a look at its famed architecture.

The move comes at a time when the demand for permitting women at places of worship is gaining ground.

“This is a 1000-year-old mosque. Our women had not seen it so far and had a great desire to visit the holy place. So the mosque committee decided to allow women to visit it on April 24 and May 8”, advocate Nawab Mulladom, president of the mosque committee, told PTI. The mosque was not opened for “any celebrations or for offering prayers. It was only to allow women to see the place”, he said, adding the men were asked to leave the mosque before the women were allowed in.

Muslim women wore their traditional attire during the visit. Fathima, one of the lucky ones to enter the holy place, said, “Standing before many historical mosques, I had always wanted to enter and offer prayers. But I was afraid of even expressing that desire. I am happy that such an opportunity has come now”.

The Juma Masjid, famous for its rich architecture and wood carvings, is situated at Thazhathangady, one of the heritage zones of the state.