Charminar Macca Masjid’s 1850 Favre Leuba Clock Draws Crowds in Ramzan
HYDERABAD: The historic Macca Masjid near Charminar is gearing up for Jummat-ul-Vida, the last Friday prayers of Ramzan. Authorities are making arrangements to handle large crowds.
The mosque, one of the largest in the country, can host over 10,000 worshippers at a time. Officials are focusing on ensuring smooth prayers.
Antique clock draws visitors
An antique Swiss-made Favre Leuba wall clock remains one of the mosque’s key attractions. The clock still works with its original components, as reported by DC.
Mosque representative Quadeer Siddiqui said workers are maintaining the clock carefully. Waheed Watch Company handles its servicing. He added that the clock dates back to 1850 and was installed during the reign of Nasir-ud-Daulah, the fourth Nizam.
The clock had stopped working for several years before experts restored it.
Restoration took years
Ghulam Rabbani of Waheed Watch Company said, “We could not find the spares easily. We wanted only original parts. Our team searched across the country and explored every possible source. It took years to gather all the components. We finally restored the clock in February 2023 after an eight-year gap.”
The clock now runs smoothly, and teams carry out regular maintenance.
Eid to be observed on Saturday
The city will celebrate Id-ul-Fitr on Saturday, as the crescent moon was not sighted on Thursday. The Markazi Ruet-e-Hilal Committee confirmed the update.
Committee members, working under Majlis Ulama-e-Deccan, said they did not see the moon. This makes Friday the day for Jummat-ul-Vida prayers.
Quazi Farooq Arifi said, “The committee met at several locations, including Dabeerpura, to gather witness accounts. However, no one reported sighting the moon.”
The committee said it bases decisions on local sightings and verified testimonies. The state government has declared a holiday on Saturday.
