With 172 million Muslims, representing 15% of its population, India has the world’s third-largest Muslim population. Islam’s establishment in this traditionally Hindu land owes much to the military prowess of Emperor Akbar Le Grand, but also to his passionate love affair with the Hindu princess Jodha Bai…
The sumptuous setting of La Grande Mosquée (rose bushes, stucco lacework, mosaic rosettes) provides the perfect backdrop for recounting this story, which helped shape 16th-century India into the country we know today. Sandrine invites you to discover these enchanting surroundings on a storytelling walk through the tale of Akbar. As you visit the gardens, patio and reception hall, a captivating story unfolds in which a rebellious Hindu princess meets an impetuous Muslim emperor. Despite everything that sets them apart, these two souls discover one another, grow closer and push each other away, ultimately offering their contemporaries a moving example of tolerance and religious respect. La Grande Mosquée de Paris was built in 1926 in a similar spirit of openness, creating a sublime haven of peace in the heart of the 5th arrondissement. Rising 33 metres high, the minaret of La Grande Mosquée continues to stand alongside Christian bell towers, bearing witness—for many years to come—to peace and friendship between peoples. A wonderful experience that those who wish can extend in the mosque’s magnificent tearoom, sharing a moment together over mint tea.
Price: €23
Source: paris.fr — photo: slp