JUMMAH MOSQUE

White and turquoise, a haven of calm and freshness in the bustle of Chinatown, this mosque, the largest in Mauritius, stands at the intersection of Royale and Jummah streets. The recognition of Islamic worship dates back to 1805, when the island was ruled by the French Decaen. Built in the 1850s under the impetus of a group of Muslim merchants established in Port Louis, it was enlarged from 1878 to 1895 following the increase in the number of believers in the city. The materials used were mainly imported from Bombay (stone, wood, lime...) and the construction and extension mobilized a number of specialized workers from India. The latter did not know how to build a minaret, hence the absence of this one. Moreover, as all the workers were not necessarily Muslims and as it was necessary to do well with the men present, certain decorative touches were left free, such as the plant ornaments framing the main door, which belong more to the Hindu than to the Islamic cult! This particularity gives the building an intercultural character which echoes the Mauritian mosaic in terms of worship. One will observe the finishing and the decoration of the spires, the beautiful carved door with copper motifs, the old clock in a tower on the roof... The patio into which one enters and which precedes the prayer room reserved exclusively for men is shaded by a superb bicentennial badamier tree.