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Journalism of Courage
For those seeking a quick thrill or a brush with the macabre, the Delhi tourism department has a special treat this year: a section of its annual diary has been dedicated to haunted sites, angry djinns and terrifying screams.
The pages highlighting the spooky side of the city, printed in tints of blue and black, talk about monuments and sites which may offer visitors a paranormal experience. That is, if you don’t mind running into ghoulish beings and being slapped by invisible hands, according to the diary.
The diary describes some “paranormal experiences” visitors have had in these “haunted” places. One of two monuments featured prominently is the Jamaali Kamaali Masjid.
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“In 1535, renowned sufi saints Jamaali and Kamaali were buried here. It is said that this tranquil masjid is haunted by djinns. Some visitors have said they have been slapped by invisible hands and others have heard screams that seemed to come from nowhere,” says the diary.
It also advises visitors not to venture there after sunset.
The other monument mentioned in the diary is the Feroz Shah Kotla fort, which, if rumours are to be believed, is home to some djinns, who wander among its ruins. This fort was built in 1354 by Feroz Shah Tuglaq.
“Every Thursday, locals can be seen lighting candles and incense sticks, offering bowls of milk and grain to appease the djinns,” states the tourism department’s diary.
Apart from these factoids, the history of the capital, its beautiful monuments and the city’s skyline have also been featured prominently in the diary. It also talks about the seven cities, built and destroyed over thousands of years, that eventually led to the rise of the capital.
“A map on the seven cities of Delhi is attached to this diary… to give it a historical flavour. These cities are Indraprastha, circa 1000 BC, Qila Rai Pithora in 1170 AD, Siri in 1302 AD, Ferozabad in 1351 AD, Jahanpanah in 1334 AD, Tuglaqabad in 1320 AD and Shahjahanabad in 1648 AD,” said Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra.
He added, “The front page of the diary has tried to capture all the significant monuments in the capital. The page on Delhi’s skyline features Humayun’s Tomb, Jantar Mantar, India Gate, Lotus Temple and Qutab Minar”.
Delhi festival postponed
The Delhi Festival, expected to be held in the end of February, has been postponed, said Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra. “There were flaws in the tenders submitted to us, we had to cancel the whole process,” he said. The festival is likely to be held in November.
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