HUssaini Dalan of Bangladesh

Hussaini Dalan(Imambara) of Dhaka-The Result of Imam Husain’s Desire

By Prof.Mazhar Naqvi

Dedicated to the sacred memory of martyrs of Karbala, Hussaini Dalan is one of the most attractive monuments of Bangladesh. Its construction commenced in Dhaka when superintendent of ‘Nawara’(fleet of boats), Syed Mir Murad in a dream  saw Hazrat Imam Husain building a ‘Taziakhana’ and desired him to raise a building in his memory. Inspired by the ‘ziyarat’ of Imam Husain in the dream, Mir Murad began the construction of the building the very next day and named it as Hussaini Dalan. While the buildings raised in memory of Imam Husain and his companions in Indian sub- continent are commonly known as Imambara, Azakhana or Ashurkhana in Indian sub- continent, the affix of word ‘Dalan’ to the holy building surely arouse curiosity.

Historians like Khan Bahadur Aulad Hussain and Munshi Rahman Ali Tayeesh in their works titled as ‘Old Dhaka’ and ‘Tareekh-E- Dacca’ have given details of construction but remained silent as to why instead of Ashurkhana or Imambara, word Dalan was preferred by Mir Murad? The literal meaning of Dalan is courtyard. But in Hussaini Dalan stands on a high platform ascended by a flight of steps on the east and consists of two main halls , namely ‘ Shirni hall and Khutba hall’ are placed back to back to form the nucleus of the building complex.  The shirni hall, facing south, is colored black to indicate sorrow and mourning for  Imam Husain, and the khutba hall, facing north, has a mimbar(pulpit) with seven wooden steps.

The main building is in the middle of complex. To its south, there is a “Pond” of 1376.95 Sq Meters. This pond not only touches the main building but adds to its grace and beauty. As shrine has no courtyard and the main building itself is in the center of the complex, the only possible reason for naming it as ‘Husaini Dalan’ might have been desired by Maula Husain himself in the dream. 

Built in 1642 during the governorship of Mughal Prince and second son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Shuja, the original building of Hussaini Dalan was a simple structure. Its present impressive edifice is attributed to Nasrat Jung, who rebuilt it in 1823.  Nawab Ahsanuallah Bahadur erected the present flat roof of the shrine after the earthquake of 1897.He is also credited with the construction of a verandah in the southern side. Even during the rule of East India company, Hussaini Dalan was repaired twice in 1807 and 1810.

The main building is two storied. The ground floor is hollow with graves in the northern part. The first floor  has two large Verandahs one in the south with four round shape pillars and another in the north with square shape four pillars. Between the two verandahs are two big halls that are used as “Prayer Room” and “Zari Khana”. The prayer room is utilized for “Namaz-e-Panjgana, Namaz-e-Juma and other prayers. Majlises” (Mourning Assemblies) to recall the martyrdom of Imams are usually held in Zari Khana that houses a Zari( replica of Imam Husain’s shrine at Karbala )  ,alams(standards) and other ‘Tabarrukatas’( holy relics) There are three more rooms on the first floor. One is called “Huqqa Khana” and is  adjacent to prayer room. It is used for keeping precious items of dalan. Another  room adjacent to the southern verandah is known as  “Nishist Gah” (r sitting room) It is used by the office bearers of the managing committee to  hold their meetings.The third room is small as compared to other two rooms and is called As ‘Bala Khana’. It accommodates ladies who wish to listen to the Majlises.

The southern facade of Dalan is flanked by two three-storey polygonal hollow towers with crowned domes. The building gives a modern appearance with remnants of older architecture in some portions. The exterior incorporates characteristics of  both Mughal and British architecture. Mughal characteristics are more visible  in the attached three-storeyed pavilion with arched windows and the row of ‘kanguras’on the flat roof. The main building has two stair cases one quite large in the east which is utilized as the main entrance to the Dalan and the other in the back (West) which is small and used by the ‘Khadims’(Caretakers). A small staircase in the north-west has been built recently exclusively for the use of women devotees.

Hussaini Dalan becomes a center of Azadari with the sighting of Muharram moon. All the important processions either originate from here or terminate after wending through the old streets of Dhaka. The shrine has truly served as a faithful place for preservation of Muharram rituals in Bangladesh where anti ‘Ahle-Bait’ forces have penetrated to alarming proportions and like Pakistan. The caretakers of Hussaini Dalan deserve full praise and May Allah, his Prophet and Masoomeen shower on them choicest blessings for the wonderful upkeep of Hussaini Dalan in adverse circumstances.