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City Of Djinns

15 images Created 26 Feb 2016

The ruins of the 13th century fortress-city of Firoz Shah Kotla in New Delhi is thronged weekly with thousands of supplicants seeking favour from supernatural beings of smokeless fire, djinns. These magical entities also known as jinn, jann or genies spring from Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. Believers, mostly Muslim but from other faiths too, circumnavigate the ruins clutching dozens of photocopied requests, flower petals, incense, and candles. They visit the numerous niches and alcoves in the catacombs said to be occupied by different djinns and greet and salute the invisible occupants with offerings. A copy of their requests, often with detailed contact information, photographs and even police reports to bolster the case is left with the ‘Baba’ before moving on to the next where the procedure is repeated - like making applications at different departments of a bureaucracy. Anand Vivek Taneja in his book “Jinnealogy” makes a compelling case for linking the historical and ongoing effects of Partition and the later Emergency with the current traditions at Firoz Shah Kotla. Partition, he argues, ‘was not just a singular event in 1947 but rather the inauguration of a structure of dispossession, displacement, and amnesia. The “Long Partition” (Vazira Zamindar 2007) continued to affect the Muslims of Delhi long after the events of 1947, being entrenched in the laws and policies of the postcolonial state, systematically eroding Muslim rights of property and citizenship’. Although jinn veneration has been associated with the Firoz Shah Kotla for almost a century, Taneja says: ‘We can think of the dargah of the jinn-saints making possible the reformation of community in the aftermath of violence. It was only in 1977, a few months after the end of the Emergency, that we have the first record of people starting to come to Firoz Shah Kotla in large numbers. This seems significant, given how destructive the Emergency was for the Old City and how many poor and working class people were displaced from the Old City to resettlement colonies across the river’.

Though the age and gender of the supplicants varies there’s a marked prevalence of women, especially younger women as they usually have the most difficult time coping within the rigid social structure of many Indian families. Some of these women subconsciously believe themselves to be possessed by spirits.
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  • 26th November 2015, New Delhi, India.  A woman is silhouetted in catacombs of the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 26th November 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
<br />
The13th century fortress-city of Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi is thronged weekly with thousands of supplicants seeking favour from supernatural beings of smokeless fire, - Djinns. These magical entities also known as Jinn, Jann or Genies spring from Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. Believers, mostly Muslim but from other faiths too, circumnavigate the ruins clutching dozens of photocopied requests, flower petals, incense, and candles. They visit the numerous niches and alcoves in the catacombs said to be occupied by different djinns and greet and salute the invisible occupants with offerings.  A copy of their requests, often with detailed contact information, photographs and even police reports to bolster the case is left with the ‘Baba’ before moving on to the next where the procedure is repeated - like making applications at different departments of a bureaucracy
    Djinns261115009.JPG
  • 20th August 2015, New Delhi, India. View of the semi-ruined mosque as worshippers gather for Namaz in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 20th August  2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
<br />
The13th century fortress-city of Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi is thronged weekly with thousands of supplicants seeking favour from supernatural beings of smokeless fire, - Djinns. These magical entities also known as Jinn, Jann or Genies spring from Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. Believers, mostly Muslim but from other faiths too, circumnavigate the ruins clutching dozens of photocopied requests, flower petals, incense, and candles. They visit the numerous niches and alcoves in the catacombs said to be occupied by different djinns and greet and salute the invisible occupants with offerings.  A copy of their requests, often with detailed contact information, photographs and even police reports to bolster the case is left with the ‘Baba’ before moving on to the next where the procedure is repeated - like making applications at different departments of a bureaucracy
    Djinns200815020.JPG
  • 19th March 2015, New Delhi, India. A group of women chant and sing in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 19th March 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
The13th century fortress-city of Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi is thronged weekly with thousands of supplicants seeking favour from supernatural beings of smokeless fire, - Djinns. These magical entities also known as Jinn, Jann or Genies spring from Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. Believers, mostly Muslim but from other faiths too, circumnavigate the ruins clutching dozens of photocopied requests, flower petals, incense, and candles. They visit the numerous niches and alcoves in the catacombs said to be occupied by different djinns and greet and salute the invisible occupants with offerings.  A copy of their requests, often with detailed contact information, photographs and even police reports to bolster the case is left with the ‘Baba’ before moving on to the next where the procedure is repeated - like making applications at different departments of a bureaucracy.
    Djinns190315008.JPG
  • 8th January 2015, New Delhi, India. Believers pray, make offerings and ask for wishes to be granted by Djinns in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 8th January 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns 080115_005.JPG
  • 26th November 2015, New Delhi, India.  Photocopied requests to Djinns fixed to railings, in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 26th November 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to pray to and leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns261115077.JPG
  • 4th December 2014, New Delhi, India. A woman passes in front of a wall lit by candles left by believers who come to pray, make offerings and ask for wishes to be granted by Djinns in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 4th December 2014<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblis abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblis was expelled from Paradise and called "Shaytan" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel. 4th December 2014, New Delhi, India. A woman stands by a wall covered with candles as offerings to Djinns in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 4th December 2014<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kot
    Djinns 041214_026.JPG
  • 12th November 2015, New Delhi, India. A man receiving the blessings of the divine from a Sufi 'pir' (master) reacts at a shrine dedicated to Djinn worship in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 12th November 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to pray to and leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns121115022.JPG
  • 8th January 2015, New Delhi, India. A man stands in quiet prayer by burning candles, incense sticks and flower petals left by believers hoping to get wishes granted by Djinns in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 8th January 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns 080115_018_2.JPG
  • 19th November 2015, New Delhi, India.  A woman prays at a shrine dedicated to Djinn worship in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 19th November 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to pray to and leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns191115014.JPG
  • 13th August 2015, New Delhi, India.  A woman stands before a shrine to Djinns in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 13th August  2015. <br />
<br />
A polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century B.C., one of many pillars of Ashoka left by the Mauryan emperor was moved from Pong Ghati Ambala, Punjab (currently in Haryana) to Delhi under orders of Firoz Shah Tughlaq of Delhi Sultanate, and re-erected in its present location in 1356, it sits atop of a three-tiered arcaded pavilion.<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to pray to and leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns200815039.JPG
  • 20th November 2014, New Delhi, India. Believers pray, make offerings and ask for wishes to be granted by Djinns in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 20th November 2014<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. <br />
Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel. The pillar, also called obelisk or Lat is an Ashoka Column, attributed to Mauryan ruler Ashoka. The 13.1 metres high column, made of polished sandstone and dating from the 3rd Century BC, was brought from Ambala in 14th century AD under orders of Feroz Shah. It was installed on a three-tiered arcaded pavilion near the congregational mosque, inside the Sultanate's fort. In centuries that followed, much of the structure and buildings near it were destroyed as subsequent rulers dismantled them and reused the spolia as building materials.
    Djinns 201114049.JPG
  • 19th March 2015, New Delhi, India. A woman illuminated by a shaft of sunlight in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 19th March 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns190315076.JPG
  • 2nd April 2015, New Delhi, India. Sunlight streams through an arched doorway as a woman prays at a shrine dedicated to Djinn worship in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 2nd April 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblis abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblis was expelled from Paradise and called "Shaytan" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns020415031.JPG
  • 27th August 2015, New Delhi, India.  A woman reaches through bars to touch the Ashokan Pillar in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 27th August 2015. Touching the pillar is believed to bring good luck or grant a wish<br />
<br />
A polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century B.C., one of many pillars of Ashoka left by the Mauryan emperor was moved from Pong Ghati Ambala, Punjab (currently in Haryana) to Delhi under orders of Firoz Shah Tughlaq of Delhi Sultanate, and re-erected in its present location in 1356, it sits atop of a three-tiered arcaded pavilion.<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
People have been coming to Firoz Shah Kotla to pray to and leave written notes and offerings for Djinns in the hopes of getting wishes granted since the late 1970's. Jinn, jann or djinn are supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran  and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. In Islamic theology jinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from smokeless fire by Allah as humans were made of clay, among other things. According to the Quran, jinn have free will, and Iblīs abused this freedom in front of Allah by refusing to bow to Adam when Allah ordered angels and jinn to do so. For disobeying Allah, Iblīs was expelled from Paradise and called "Shayṭān" (Satan).They are usually invisible to humans, but humans do appear clearly to jinn, as they can possess them. Like humans, jinn will also be judged on the Day of Judgment and will be sent to Paradise or Hell according to their deeds. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel.
    Djinns270815015.JPG
  • 19th March 2015, New Delhi, India. A Sufi 'pir' (master) performs a cleansing rite on a female supplicant in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, India on the 19th March 2015<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPH BY AND COPYRIGHT OF SIMON DE TREY-WHITE a photographer in delhi<br />
+ 91 98103 99809. Email: simon@simondetreywhite.com<br />
<br />
The13th century fortress-city of Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi is thronged weekly with thousands of supplicants seeking favour from supernatural beings of smokeless fire, - Djinns. These magical entities also known as Jinn, Jann or Genies spring from Islamic mythology as well as pre-Islamic Arabian mythology. They are mentioned frequently in the Quran and other Islamic texts and inhabit an unseen world called Djinnestan. Believers, mostly Muslim but from other faiths too, circumnavigate the ruins clutching dozens of photocopied requests, flower petals, incense, and candles. They visit the numerous niches and alcoves in the catacombs said to be occupied by different djinns and greet and salute the invisible occupants with offerings.  A copy of their requests, often with detailed contact information, photographs and even police reports to bolster the case is left with the ‘Baba’ before moving on to the next where the procedure is repeated - like making applications at different departments of a bureaucracy.
    Djinns190315040_1.JPG
View: 100 | All