Nizamat Imambara

Imambara is a place,or a building,where people congregate for “Majlis”(Mourning Congregation) of Imam Hussain and martyrs of Karbala.An Inambara is different from a mosque as it is meant for Majlis.

Nizamat Imambara at Murshidabad is the largest Imambara in India. Situated within Killa Nizamat,it is 70 mts north of the grand Hazarduari palace,on the banks of the Bhagirathi .

The Old Imambara

The old Imambara was built by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula.It was principally made of wood.For building the foundation of the building, the Nawab himself carried the brick and mortar. The ground was dug up to a depth of six feet and filled with soil from from Mecca so that the people could have an experience of Haj.The building was destroyed once in 1842 and the second time very badly in 1846 due to fireworks during the weaning ceremony of five year old Hasan Ali Mirza.The fire started at midnight,and nothing survived apart from the old Madina Mosque.

The original Madina ,as seen in a painting from the 19th century

The New Imambara

The current building was constructed by Nawab Mansur Ali Khan in 1847 ,under the supervision of architect Sadiq Ali Khan.It was finished in a record time of eleven months.The workers were given free rations apart from their wages so they could work round the clock.

The Building

The new building is 680 ft long with varying widths.It is situated at a little distance north of the Hazarduary palace with the old Madina in between and to the west by the side of the river.It is made of three quadrangles.

The central quadrangle has the Madina and the Memberdalan.

The Eastern quadrangle has the Naubatkhana.

The western quadrangle has a double storied Mosque, standing on the mint ghat right on the riverbank.

The memberdalan,which literally means a hall for members,is a hall for waiting.It has a large room for ladies and is separated from the Madina by a vat which used to have faucets with silver fittings.It also has a large verandah.

The entrance of the Naubatkhana is a large gate which is surrounded by the naubatkhana.

The western quadrangle has a large two storied mosque containing several chandeliers gifted by the East Indian Company. There are also rooms in a two storied building surrounding a central garden.

Madina,from the western dalan,known as siddha

Mosque in the western quadrangle,also known locally as the Sada(White) Mosjid

Steps leading to the mosque.The black stone bed is where bodies of departed royalty were cleaned and anointed before burial.

The Imambara contains lots of valuables and artefacts ,which are the property of the Murshidabad Estate,which is managed by the Judicial Department of the Government of West Bengal. They are kept in safe custody, and Displayed only during the period of Muharram.

The verandahs in the western quadrangle are decorated during this period with flags and artifacts adorned with flowers and incense as devotees pay their respects.