Hello Mumbai City Desk
Mumbai March 8 The iconic Haji Ali Dargah, the final resting place of the revered Sufi saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari in the small islet off the Worli coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, will have the world’s tallest national flag.
An example of harmony, the Haji Ali Dargah is visited by people from all religion, faith and culture.
The announcement was made during the weekend coinciding with the holy month of Ramzan.
During the holy month of Ramzan, the Haji Ali Dargah hosts one of the biggest gatherings.
The Haji Ali shrine of the 15th century Sufi saint is located about 500 yards from the shoreline of Worli in the middle of the Arabian Sea.
This monument has been sentinel to the shores of Mumbai for a long time.
During the high tide, the dargah seems completely isolated with no access – it looks more like a little island.
In fact, what started with just two dozen people now has more than 1,000 attending the special Sehri gathering.
“The Haji Ali Dargah has a very importance place in history of India. It is visited by lakhs of people annually who come from across India. Even foreign tourists visit the Haji Ali Darhah. This small islet will now have the world’s tallest national flag,” said Suhail Khandwani, Trustee of the Haji Ali Dargah and the Mahim Makhdoom Shah Baba Dargah.
The special Sheri was organised by the two Dargah trusts in association with the LEGEND Group in which priests of different faiths including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsees, Sikhs and Buddhists were present in their traditional attires.
“The historic Haji Ali Dargah, one of India’s most revered spiritual landmarks, continues to stand as a beacon of faith, inclusivity, and communal harmony,” said Khandwani.
According to him, the Haji Ali Dargah Trust has submitted a proposal to the Maharashtra government to erect the world’s tallest national flag on the islet adjoining the shrine. The installation is envisioned as a landmark symbol of patriotism, unity, and the shared identity of the nation,” he said, adding that special piling and quality metal would be used for the flagpole and special fabric for the flag. “We have to take into account that it is located along the sea,” he added.
The Haji Ali Dargah witnesses particularly large numbers of devotees on Thursdays and Fridays, when pilgrims from across Mumbai and beyond visit to offer prayers and seek the blessings of the holy saint. The initiative continues to reflect the enduring spirit of Mumbai — a city where faith, diversity, and harmony coexist with strength and dignity.
The complex is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic architecture, was constructed in 1431 in memory of a wealthy Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who gave up all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Hailing from Bukhara, in the ancient Persian Empire (present day Uzbekistan), Bukhari travelled around the world in the early to mid 15th century, and then settled in Mumbai.
The structure has white domes and minarets reminiscent of the Mughal architecture of the period.
The structure was erected on a set of high rising rocks and was given its present day shape in the early 19th century after the Trust was legally formed as an entity in 1916.
