The Sparkling star Mosque

Star mosque is one of the different mosques in Bangladesh. Many mosques have been built since ancient times in Dhaka city.  Each mosque has a lot of history, different stories. Many of the stories have been lost in the evolution of time. But the mosques are still standing here as an example of our historical past. The identity of these mosques of Bangladesh is not known to many of us.

Tara mosque is one of the famous mosques in Dhaka.  It's rare to find people who have not heard about the beauty of this mosque.

Location of the mosque:  it's located in old Dhaka. To see the ancient mosque, you need to visit Armanitola 6/3 at Abul Khayrat Road.

The blue stars on the white marble made the mosque unique from any other mosque. This mosque is built in the early eighteenth century, built on the white marble dome of the Blue shaded star. The construction date was not engraved on the mosque.

History: It is known that in the eighteenth century, zamindar Mirza Golam Pir came in a Dhaka's Mohalla (area) named Ale Abu Sayeed. The real name of the zamindar was Mirza Ahmad Jaan. The name of the Mohalla Ale Abu Sayeed was renamed as Armanitola later. Mirza Ahmad Jaan was the grandson of the famous rich man of Dhaka, Mir Abu Sayeed. Mirza Golam Pir made the mosque. It was known as Mirza Saheb's mosque.

Mirza Golam Pir died in 1860. Later in 1926, Ali Jan Bepari, the local businessman of Dhaka, reformed the mosque. Japan's interesting sugar-ticker material was used for mosaic designing. Mughal architecture style has the effect of this mosque. The Same type of feature is observed in Kasaituli mosque of Dhaka.

Architectural description of star mosque: At the time of Mirza Ghulam, the mosque was three domed, 33 feet or 10.06 meters in length and 12 feet in width or 4.04 meters. During the reform of Ali Jan, in 1926, a verandah was raised on the east side of the mosque. In 1987, when the mosque of the three domes converted into a five-domed mosque, the mosque increased in length. However, there was no change in the width.

The length of the extended mosque is 21.34 meters long, and the width is 7.98 meters. To modify the mosque of five domes, a mihrab is broken, and two new Domes and three new mihrabs are added. Five arched paths have been created.

The arches arched out of several grooves and four octagonal pillars. Mosaic designs inside and outside the mosque. In this landmark, small fractions and glass pieces of Chinamati (China soil) plate, cup, etc. are used. This method is called 'sugar trickery' or sugar granularity. Flowers, flower bush, rose; the moon, stars and Arabic calligraphic script are included in the pinnacle of the mosque.

The decoration of this mosque has got a special significance in the flower tree with flowers and pot, in the top of the arch, on Pendentives and the walls. Notable gems tile in Japan's famous 'Fujisan' is seen in the wall of the balcony. At the center of 'Fasad', the place has an excellent crescendo and star design with Arabic script.

Various blue stars are set in circular white domes. Star 'Motif' was the highest priority in the entire layout; therefore, the mosque is known as Tara mosques. The current length of the mosque is 70 feet (21.34 meters), width 26 feet (7.98 meters). In the year 2015, the proposal of the Ministry of Shipping was initiated to dismantle 'Tara Mosque' along with 21 other deployments. But later it was not implemented.

Although it is challenging to find the mosque due to the dense streets and crowds of old Dhaka. But if you stand in front of it, the annoyances of the mind will fly like camphor. Its decorative walls and domes have declared the beauty of the Mughals. In front of the mosque, there is a star-shaped fountain in the open area.

Around it, a road has been built with mosaic tile on green grass to enter the mosque. These have multiplied its beauty many times. There is no way to get impressed with its five domes and interior designs. Your mind will be lost in the Mughal period to see the zodiac and various flowers design.

You may think that you are standing in the darbar (court) of a Mughal Badshah. Every day hundreds of visitors from Dhaka and its surrounding areas are fascinated by its beauty. Almost over hundred people participate in Namaz prayers every time.

In 1976, the government of Bangladesh printed the banknotes in the range of 5 to 500 Taka, centered on this establishment. Presently, there is also a 100 taka worth of notes in the old Dhaka's elegant architecture.

At present, Tara mosque is under the supervision of Department of Archeology of the Government of Bangladesh. A madrassa is located beside the mosque, which is also looked after by the mosque authorities. At present, there are 250 students in Madrassa, 250 students in Madrasa, 40 students in the Hifzkhana, and five teachers in the Madrassa and two in the Hifzkhana. A committee is formed by the local people to maintain the mosque.

Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka, acting as the president and caretaker of this committee. The government of Bangladesh provides 3 lakh Taka every year for the development and cost of mosques. Meanwhile, iftar is organized on behalf of the local people and the mosque committee for the poor and the traveler in mosque premises every Ramadan. There, hundreds of people gathered at Maghrib after the Iftar.

How to go? It is easy to go to star mosque by rickshaw from Chankharpul of old Dhaka. Rickshaw will be charged at Taka 30.