Asian Architecture Photobook

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.