Kochangadi

“…when any one of you enters the mosque, he should say, ‘O God open to me the doors of your blessing’, and when he leaves it should say, ‘O God open to me the doors of your wisdom’…” Inscription at Chembi& a Palli

Carved inscrip< on boards above prayer hall entry doors at Chembi a Palli.

South of the old Maharaja’s estate (now called the Dutch Palace) and Jewtown (once home to Jewish merchants) sits Kochangadi, the original Muslim quarter. Stretching along the backwaters to the east, far from the eyes of the European colonialists who rarely travelled to Ma& ancherry, this area has been home to Muslims since the founding of Cochin.  e se& lers chose the unoccupied east side of the peninsula for its excellent harbour. Here they were protected from the rough open seas at the west.  e life of the local Muslims, complete with schools, mosques, shops, storehouses, homes and shrines thrived. Today, the population remains and the  ve daily calls to prayer continue to  ll the air, distinct voices emanating from the many di* erent mosques. Successful merchants built  ne homes in Kochangadi and contributed to the construction of its mosques.  e neighbourhood has more than a dozen mosques, catering to a predominantly Sunni population, with a variety of sub-sects and ethnic backgrounds. Coconut