Our group is delighted to reach Shillong in temperate weather after overcoming the darkness. The coolness of the air calms the feeling just as the surrounding scenes add to the eyes. The poet Nazrul said, “Do you want to keep your eyes on me and make me live?” The distant mountains are being covered by the traveling clouds, then the sun is shining. Seeing this unbridled splendor of creation, he unknowingly bows his head to its architect. To make that head even lower, one of our travel guides, under the guidance of Khasi language poet and college teacher Bakhiamun Ringer, drove to Laban. There is Shillong’s new wonder Grand Medina Mosque- or Glass Mosque. The only glass in India and the largest mosque in Northeast India.

Blogs and travel guides do not mention the Glass Mosque, one of Shillong’s many attractions. Interested tourists just cross the narrow mountain road and rush to Laban to visit the mosque. At the top of our itinerary is the Grand Medina Mosque. Bakhiyamun is also the reason for that interest. Because he was the one who posted a video in the group ‘Traveling Shillong Trip’, which I couldn’t help but put on my itinerary after watching. It seemed that the journey to Shillong would not be too bad if it started with prayers. Everyone on the tour is excited. The Khasi ghosts can show us the mosque, we can see. Although they are followers of Christianity, they have already stated that they are more in tune with Islam and Muslims than other religions. Bakhiamun said, ‘I think the mosque offers to pray services every day, morning and evening time. You will get evening prayer.

I said, oh no, there are prayers for five times a day.

The car crossed the hilly road and reached Laban area. A three-story building on the right as you go down a narrow alley. Entrance to the bottom of the building. Spacious courtyard shaded by grass in front. Upon entering the premises, the eye-catching multicolored fountain greets the visitor. Looking ahead, I see a multi-storied Grand Mosque in a magnificent architectural style. The mosque has a dome, four minarets. Another name for the whole mosque is Glass Mosque as it is wrapped in green glass. Entering through the courtyard on the east side, to the right or north of the mosque is the ablution room for girls. Arrange their prayers in the place surrounded on the right inside. Eight thousand people can offer prayers at the mosque and the adjoining Eidgah. The capacity of the mosque is two thousand. According to the wiki, the number of Muslims in Shillong is about 5 percent or 7,000.

Male Ozkhana on the left. The two groups of travelers ran for ablution. Although there is a place to sit in the ablution room, I realized that everyone here is standing and performing ablution. I performed ablution with Tusu and poet Kamrul Hasan. The amount of the May 31 Jumma collection is written in chalk on a blackboard to the left of the entrance to the Ojukhana. It seems that the amount of money collected in the mosque fund during the Jumma prayers throughout the month is written on the board. The amount of Jumma collection till May 31 is 10,110 TK. I thought the calculation of the glass mosque is as transparent as the architectural style.

He entered the mosque through the south door from Ojukhana and died. Daytime travel fatigue disappears in an instant. I entered the sanctuary of holiness. Garo and Khasi chiefs of the secular Indian state of Meghalaya. Much of their ancient religion is lost. Most are now baptized into Christ. Being able to perform prayers in the main mosque of the capital of such a state is satisfying the mind with a different feeling.

It’s a little over six o’clock. Azan is over. The prayers are about to begin. I fell into conflict, I will do the intention of any prayer? The sky is still clear. India time is half an hour ahead. The time of Maghrib did not come in my head then. I thought, early Maghrib? After standing in the prayer, I saw that Imam Sahib started reciting aloud – ‘Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin, Arrahmani Rahim’…

I intended Maghrib. Alcohol is recited aloud in the evening.

After the prayers, I saw the poet Kamrul Hasan standing in a row in the back row of the wide mosque. He is performing circumcision after completing his duty in the congregation. As far as I know, I don’t think I have seen this professor of management interested in religion. On the contrary, in the discussion of religion and faith, he raised the issue of science. The solemn atmosphere and sanctity of the place have made that man stand in the line of prayers. He wants to return from the exceptional mosque not only with the memory of seeing but also with the memory of connecting with himself through prayers.

When I went out after the prayers, I saw the fountain in the front yard already gleaming with the multi-colored light of electricity. The green light is coming out from the dome and Charminar and the main mosque. Standing in the courtyard, we are taking pictures of various angles behind the mosque. About thirty worshipers who had joined the prayers were then leaving the courtyard. Poet Kamrul Hasan is a talkative person, a believer in constant networking, I see someone getting acquainted. Educated, elegant bearded young man. I join too. It is known that his name is Dr. Jamal Siddique. Dental specialist. Regular worshiper of the mosque. He said that whether there are too many worshipers in the prayers at different times or not, more than five hundred worshipers gather in the Friday prayers. Imam Sahib was coming out during this talk, whose prayers we have already heard in a melodious voice and I am convinced that he is a reciter who can recite the Qur’an correctly. I see the gentleman is a young Maulana. It was learned that he had come here from Bihar. The name is Saddam Hussein.

Coming out, it seemed that the area had fountains, museums, temples, including the Ramakrishna Mission.