Bara Imambara

Description

Bara Imambara (Hindi: बड़ा इमामबाड़ा), also known as Asafi Imambara, is an imambara complex in Lucknow, India, built by Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh, in 1784. The term “Bara” means big. An Imambara is a shrine built by Shia Muslims for the purpose of Azadari. This imambara is the second largest after the Nizamat Imambara. The building complex also includes the large Asfi mosque, the Bhul-bhulaiya (the labyrinth), and Bowli, a steep well with running water.

Two imposing gateways lead to the main hall. It is said that there are 1024 ways to reach the terrace, but only two ways to come back, which is through the first gate or the last gate. The architectural design is considered accidental and unique.

Construction and Purpose:

Construction of Bara Imambara started in 1780, during a year of devastating famine. One of Asaf-ud-Daula’s objectives in embarking on this grand project was to provide employment for the people in the region during the famine, which lasted for almost a decade. It is said that ordinary people worked during the day building up the structure, while noblemen and the elite worked at night to break down anything that was built during the day. This was a unique intervention for employment generation.

Cultural and Architectural Significance:

The construction was completed in 1784. The estimated cost of building the Imambara ranged between half a million rupees to a million rupees. Even after completion, the Nawab continued to spend between four and five hundred thousand rupees annually on its decoration.

The Bara Imambara is not only a significant religious site for Muslims, especially during the commemoration of Muharram, but it also stands as a symbol of the syncretic culture and architectural innovation of the time. It reflects the Nawabi era’s opulence and their contribution to arts, culture, and architecture, despite the political turmoils of the period.