The exquisite carvings on the gabled roof have been cleaned and polished and coats of white cement have replaced the fading lime plaster on the walls.
At the same time, the ornate works hugging the wooden enclosures are also getting a new burnish. The age-old Juma Masjid at Thazhathangadi, believed to be among the mosques constructed by Malik bin Habib, an eighth-century religious preacher from Arabia, is undergoing a massive restoration of its traditional architecture. The works at a hefty expense, which began about five months ago, is slated for completion by next week.
“The objective is to restore the old world charm of the masjid, which forms core of the Thazhathangadi heritage area,” said C.M. Yoosuf, secretary of the mosque Jama Ath committee. Situated on the banks of the Meenachil river, the two-storey building that houses the mosque is a popular tourist attraction. It showcases a rich mix of Kerala architecture and Arabic sculpture including a sundial, sacred writings from the Quran embossed in wood, and richly carved facades, among other things.
Inside, the structure encompasses an ancient air-conditioning system comprising wooden panels and latticed screens. The mosque is believed to have been established 1,200 years ago while the present structure was constructed around the same time when Kottayam became the capital of the erstwhile Thekkumkoor kingdom, said Rajeev Pallikkonam, a local historian, who chronicled the mosque’s history. Thazhathangadi, during the period, held a key position among major in-land markets across the region.
Pillars and panels
“This structure with its pillars and panels, is indeed a piece of fine craftsmanship in wood. The restoration works, which also marks a shift from the bright colour scheme the structure had embraced a few decades ago, will surely help it retain the lost splendour,” he observed.