Hajo is a small temple town in the Kamrup district of Lower Assam, which is well known for its ambiance of inter-religious tolerance, fellow feeling and co-operation. There are several temples and shrines here which are sacred to different sects of Hinduism – Vasihnavism, Saivism and Saktism.
Located atop the ‘Garudachal’ Hill in Hajo is the holy shrine of Muslims of Assam known as the Dargah of a famous Pir – the ‘Poa Makka’ (Quarter Mecca). The shrine attracts devotee from both the Muslim and the Hindu communities. The ‘Poa Mecca’ has the tomb of the seer Giasuddin Auliya. It is believed that, by offering prayers here the faithful gain one fourth of the spiritual enlightenment of what could be gained at Mecca. The name – ‘poa’ means ‘one-fourth’.
This is the most famous Dargah of the Mohmmedan people of North-East India. It is believed that Peer Aulia Giasuddin Sahab was responsible for bringing ‘one poa’ of land from the Holy city of Mecca and establishing a Masjid on the hill Garudachala. From the term ‘Poa’, the name evolved. But the most widely spread story is that, when Giasuddin Aulia established the mosque at Garudachala hills, there were the excavation of 90 Shrines – one fourth of Mecca, which was known to be 360. From this one fourth of Mecca, the name ‘Poa Mecca’ evolved.
Giasuddin Aulia was born in 1193 in Tabriz of Iran. His name was Shaikh Jalaluddin. He was a religious Islamic Peer who received ‘Gaus’ (Siddhatva) or order of the God to propagate the holy path among the people. He remained in Hajo for 20 years and propagated Islam and established a mosque. From this place, Giasuddin Aulia sent seventy Aulias to propagate Islam in Tibet and China. The Dargah of Giasuddin Aulia Dargah is near the Poa Mecca Dargah. The Dargah was reconstructed in the reign of Shahjahan and this place was declared as a holy place of Islamic faith.
The ‘Uruch’ festival of Poa Mecca at Hajo observed on ‘Maghi Purnima’ is famously celebrated by the Islamic cultivators and religious people of the region. Disciples of the religious faith coming from different places donate animals like cows, goats, birds and paddy to the Dargah. The Hindus also pay their respects at the holy Dargah.
Jungleideas welcomes you to India’s North East to visit the ‘Poa Makka’ Shrine at the land where Faith Unites – ‘HAJO’ – the Holy Land of Hindus, Muslims and the Buddhists, the State of Assam, Incredible India!
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Pilgrimage Tour of North East India
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Pilgrimage Tour of North East India
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Pilgrimage Tour of North East India
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Pilgrimage Tour of North East India
Recommended Itinerary for your Visit: Pilgrimage Tour of North East India
