Beemapally

The famous Beemapally is the first mosque in India and the second in the world where Juma prayers were started. The mosque is renowned for the Uroos festival conducted annually. Beemapally is situated in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. With all the minarets and domes, it is the most beautiful of the mosques in India. The major attraction of the mosque is the tomb of Beema Beevi, a lady with miraculous powers. Uroos festival is held to revere Beema Beevi. Thousands of pilgrims from different religions and castes take part in the festival every year. The hoisting of the mosque’s customary flag in front of the elders and other devotees indicates the beginning of the festival celebrations. The devotees carry money in pots decorated with frankincense and flowers and smeared with sandalwood paste and that gives the festival the name “Chandanakudam” (Chandanam means sandalwood paste and kudam means pot). During these days, several art forms such as Daharamuttu are performed in the mosque. The distance from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Beemapally Mosque is 8 km, and from Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, it is just 2 km. It is a definite point to visit while taking a tour of Kerala or Thiruvananthapuram.