JALAN MASJID INDIA
THE EXPERIENCE
Introduction
Tucked in the city just by the skirts of Kelang River, lies a true gem of the city, Jalan Masjid India. Just within walking distance of the Masjid Jamek LRT Station, this street attracts hundreds of visitors daily what with it housing several of the Indian community’s main trades. However, Jalan Masjid India is not just a business hub; it’s one with a true flare of the influence of India’s commerce and culture.
Street Description
Jalan Masjid India houses the century-old mosque, aptly called Masjid India. This mosque, back in the day, was built specifically to cater to the traders and the community of this area as their place of worship. As the street unfolds, various types of trades can be seen. The whole street bursts with the vibrancy of colours, culture and commerce. It is the intersection, the merging and the diffusion of business and Indian culture. Along the street houses shop after shop of textiles, and jewellery. Each shop is unique to its own, carrying different types of patterns and designs. As one progresses further down the street, the scent of flowers and the aroma of herbs and spices fill the air. The abundance of street stalls exposes one to the various smells of be it Indian cuisine or your regular local street food. Indian sweets such as vadai can also be found. Even in their cuisine, the Indian community manages to add a splash of colour, making the food vibrant and enticing. What makes Jalan Masjid India all the more special is that it is a community business centre. Each business is a shophouse in the sense that it is the shopkeeper’s living and trading quarters. While the shophouses do not display much traces of traditional Indian architecture, their signage provides them a sense of being; it does not scream culture, but it provides a stamp of belonging to the shophouses. The hustle and bustle of the street does not stop no matter the condition. Be it with the sun shining bright, or the storm clouds pouring down rain, the street and its energy pushes on. Vendors are still carrying out their businesses, doors are still wide open and the people are still on the move.
“OUR JOURNEY. OUR EXPERIENCE.”
THE BAZAAR
Filled with the busy hustle of friendly faces and colourful stalls, we were greeted with the bazaar once we stepped foor in Jalan Masjid India. - Cynthia Lee
THE MOSQUE
A century old place of worship for the masses, from all different walks of Kuala Lumpur, built speciďŹ cally for the community of Jalan Masjid India. - Wong Yoke Lin
BEING
A centralised and personalised business hub; a community trade centre, housing the homes and businesses of the community. - Wong Yoke Lin
FLOWER
Flowers represent eternity, purity, divinity and widely used as a symbol of life in Hinduism. - Gan Sue Jing
Li ar th
MAKE A LIVING
Setting up his stall for freshly made “agar-agar susu lembu�, making a living to sustain his family. - Lee Jia Xin
MUSICAL COLOURS
ive street musical performances re held in the evening, revitalising he street through sound and beat. - Gan Sue Jing
IKAN SUMBAT
Even in cuisine, sauces of a variety of spices and chilli breathe life and flavour into every mouthful of the simplest of dishes, much like the grilled fish. - Wong Yoke Lin
LORONG
Utilizing the lorong, among two shop lots with varieties of traditional Indian snacks. - Lee Jia Xin
MOTHER’S LOVE
In the midst of our journey, we were intrigued by the beauty of a mother’s love while she carries her baby.
- Cynthia Lee
DIVERSITY
One of the many reasons why we are 1 Malaysia. Sharing and loving among each other despite their differences. - Cynthia Lee
SAY CHEESE
Friendly citizens that we came across while passing through the covered food court, that was crowded even at non-peak hours. - Lee Jia Xin
COLOURS
Jalan Masjid India is well known for their textile businesses that ďŹ ll the streets with colours and hence adding the touch of Indian culture to the street. -Deidre Zhang
HERITAGE
Religion, culture and daily life meshed into one simple yet elaborate activity. - Wong Yoke Lin
THE HANGING SUITS
These meticulous ďŹ nishings of the traditional designs on the Punjabi suits are what brings beauty and youth to those who wear them. - Cynthia Lee
GOLDEN TRADITIO
The Indian community is renowned for their gold jewelleries and it’s amazi how they have maintaine their traditional designs to current day. - Cynthi
HENN
Who kne prepared owering skillful h her crea
ON
ing ed o this
ia Lee
NA
ew henna was d from the dye of a g plant? They did. A henna artist unleashes ativity spontaneously. - Lee Jia Xin
SHOPAHOLICS
Despite already being decked out in vibrant colours, they still insist on more vibrance in their life. - Cynthia Lee
VIBRANCE
Yes, yet another shop with vibrant colours enlighting the entire street once more, giving the street another touch of cheerfulness and happiness. - Cynthia Lee
ATTRACTIONS
One shop may sell both Muslim wear and Indian wear. This is something that cannot be found in India but only in Malaysia where multiculture is found. - Deidre Zhang
CULTURAL INFLUENCES
Jalan Masjid India not only portrays the Indian culture but also the Muslim culture with its high quality yet affordable Muslim fashion pieces. - Deidre Zhang
COLOUR
Even by just looking at the colourful kuih-muih makes them salivate, just grab a cha
RS WITH FOOD
air and there you go! - Lee Jia Xin
CONNECT, OPPORTUNITY
Connectivity between Jalan Masjid India and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, providing exposure for more business opportunities, with the attraction of its variant and vibrant clothing. - Lee Jia Xin
IN BETWEEN
Not missing the chance to earn some money, a staircase in between two shop lots was also used to run a business, with the attraction of colourful magazines, and a variety of grab-and-go cold drinks. - Lee Jia Xin
WEARING INDIA
Several shops with Indian fashion can be found across the street where fashion clothing ranging from everyday wear to wedding dresses dripping with tiny beads on the colourful textiles specially imported from India. - Deidre Zhang
EMBROIDERY OF INDIA
The dot, circle, square, triangle and permutations constitute the design of the fabric. - Gan Sue Jing
P
T d
PAMPER YOUSELVES
Gold jewellery shops are popular in the Indian culture as they wear it during occasions. Indian cuisine restaurants and foot massaging parlours can be found along the busy street where tourists and locals can pamper themselves. - Deidre Zhang
PRAYING MATS
These vibrant and colourful mats are meant for the Indian-Muslims or Muslim citizens to use for their daily prayers ritual. - Cynthia Lee
ESSENCE
The journey through the sounds and scents of Indian trade; textiles, spices and gold, all gathered in one place. -Wong Yoke Lin
DIFFERENT COLOUR, DIFFERENT STATUS
Different colours and materials of buildings represent the importance of the building. Brightly painted shoplots and landmarks are found across the street whereas ats and apartments for the residents are plain white and left with little maintenance and upkeep. - Deidre Zhang
STILL
The vibrance amongst the dullness. Even in the quieter portions of the street, human activities are still abundant, though less crowded. - Wong Yoke Lin
SHE’S GOT STYLE, SHE’S GOT FLAIR
A variety of textures and prints, exploding with the colour and flair of Indian fashion. - Wong Yoke Lin
SHOPHOUSES
Narrow, small terraced houses with a sheltered ďŹ ve foot pedestrian walkway at the front. The number of air-conditioner condensers shows the compaction of space in the shop houses. - Gan Sue Jing
DAILY GRIND
The hustle and bustle of the streets, expressing a variety in visitors, stamping its importance as a business hub to the community. -Wong Yoke Lin
AGING
The agin the age o Indian cu ago and down to generatio
Colou snack street being travel
G OF BUILDING
ng of the buildings mark of the street where ulture was planted long the culture passed the younger on. -Deidre Zhang
STEP INTO INDIA
urful textiles and Indian ks can be found along the t which gives the feeling of g in India without actually lling to India. -Deidre Zhang
FOUR BIG BA
As we walked furth the sighting of thes Even the plastic ba
AGS
her into the streets, we chanced upon se people with their grocery bags. ags in this street are vibrant in colour! - Cynthia Lee
URBAN TREASURE
Tucked away in the midst of dull high-rises and skyscrapers, is this gem of a street. - Wong Yoke Lin
Weathered, dated and stripp the ever-vibrant street of Jala
CULTURAL
Jalan Masjid India is located in a context which enables the ex Indian-Muslim culture.
TIME-STAINED
ped bare; mold, moss and weed. A rarity in the facades of an Masjid India. -Wong Yoke Lin
xperience of the colorful - Gan Sue Jing
MINIMALISM
Jalan Masjid India adopted the motto “Less is More� to describe the aesthetic tactic of arranging the numerous necessary components of a building to create an impression of simplicity. - Gan Sue Jing
e motto “Less etic tactic of ssary compon impression
Gan Sue Jing
REPETITION
This building is formed by using grids and proportions based on functional and formal rules. The repetitive shapes created simplicity. - Gan Sue Jing
BUSY STREET
Jalan Masjid India has always been a hive of activity with many shops offering a wide array of merchandise even on a rainy day. - Gan Sue Jing
MASJID INDIA STREET
Rain or no rain, there are still activities going on along the street. Food stalls and shoplots are still in business and nothing can stop them. - Deidre Zhang
INTERVAL
Time pauses for vendors at food stalls when it rains. The momentary lapse in business is only an indication for the hardworking to get back on the grind once more. - Cynthia Lee
Splashing the stree
THE BLISSFULE CLEANING
The worker is cleaning the ямВoor after the rain. - Gan Sue Jing
SPLASH
et with yellow! - Lee Jia Xin
COLOUR YOURSELF
Adding colourful and shiny accesories onto the body or an ensemble is one of the ways to show the beauty in Indian culture. Bangles are a staple piece in completing the look of traditional Indian attire or costumes. - Deidre Zhang
ROTI NAAN
Naan is soft and fluffy bread made from plain flour. It is eaten more in Northern Indian regions due to the dry climate. - Gan Sue Jing
BRIYANI
Basmathi, spice, and everything nice.
VADA
Crispy on the outside; uffy on the inside. Flavourful savoury Indian snack with a touch of spices and herbs- perfectly shaped and fried. - Lee Jia Xin
- Lee Jia Xin
Conclusion
Jalan Masjid India exudes the very heart and soul of the interaction between the Indian community and their activities. There is no denying the uniqueness of this street and how it exempliďŹ es the sense of being in an otherwise dull place. Jalan Masjid India truly is, an experience.