Zafar Ali, chairman of the Management Committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, announced on Wednesday that on March 14, Friday prayers will be held at 2.30 pm due to Holi. He said that the work of dyeing and painting of the mosque will start from tomorrow.
Zafar Ali told reporters on Wednesday evening that people of both communities have been urged to celebrate Holi and offer Friday prayers in the atmosphere of harmony. He advised the people of the Muslim community to stay away from the areas played Holi and warned him of mischievous elements.
He emphasized that such elements are present in every community. Regarding the administration’s move to cover the mosques with tarpaulin, Ali welcomed the decision that this is a positive step. He said that mosques were covered in the same way in the previous years and this year also the administration and police have taken similar precautions.
After the Allahabad High Court order, Ali said on the issue of dyeing of the royal Jama Masjid that work will start from the main gate of the mosque. Since, the walls behind the mosque have been covered with tarpaulin to protect them from the colors of Holi, so the painting in that area will be done after the festival. He said that this process will be done under the supervision of the team of Archaeological Survey of India.