The Mochi Gate locally known as Mochi Darwaza (موچی دروازہ) is located in the south of the

Walled City of Lahore The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the Old City or Inner Lahore, refers to the historic core of Lahore, the capital and largest city of Punjab, Pakistan. The early settlements were established between the Origins of Lahore, 1st and 7th ...

between Akbari Gate and Shah Alam Gate in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. It is one of the thirteen gates of the

which were built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor

Akbar Akbar (Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, – ), popularly known as Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expa ...

and were connected with a thirty feet high fortified wall for guarding the city. The gates were demolished during the British rule but were again constructed in early 1900s but during the riots of 1947 some gates were burnt down and some were demolished, Mochi Gate was one of them. The structure of the gate does not exist now but the streets, mohallah and buildings of high architectural value can still be seen in its streets. There are several traditions associated with the name of this very gate. According to some historians, it is named after Moti, a guard of the gate during the Mughal era, who guarded and looked after the gate all his life. On the other hand however most historians agree that “Mochi” is the marred form of Urdu word “Morchi” which means “Trench Soldier”. The Governor's "Piada" units used to be stationed here. This origin of its name is further supported by the fact that the different streets (mohallas) inside this gate still bear their old names like ''Mohalla Teer-garan'' (arrow craftsmen), ''Mohalla Kaman-garan'' (bow craftsmen). The bazaar around Mochi Gate is renowned for its shops of

dried fruit Dried fruit is fruit from which the majority of the original water content has been removed prior to cooking or being eaten on its own. Drying may occur either naturally, by sun, through the use of industrial dehydrators, or by freeze drying. ...

kites A kite is a tethered heavier than air flight, heavier-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create Lift (force), lift and Drag (physics), drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. Kites often have ...

and

fireworks Fireworks are Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large numbe ...

. Mochi Gate is also known for ancient Mosque of Muhammad Saleh Kamboh, teacher of the Mughal Emperor

Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...

. Further inside is the Mohalla Shia, where the traditional

Shia Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...

of Lahore still gather annually, at Muharram (first lunar month of the Islamic calendar) and Safar (second lunar month of the Islamic calendar) to carry out the Majaalis (Shia religious gatherings) and Maatum (self-chest-beating) to commemorate the

martyrdom A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In colloqui ...

Imam Hussain Husayn ibn Ali (; 11 January 626 – 10 October 680 CE) was a social, political and religious leader in early medieval Arabia. The grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an Alid (the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's daughter ...

and Imam Hassan, the grandsons of the

Islamic prophet Prophets in Islam () are individuals in Islam who are believed to spread God's message on Earth and serve as models of ideal human behaviour. Some prophets are categorized as messengers (; sing. , ), those who transmit divine revelation, mos ...

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

. A number of Imaam Bargahs in the form of Havelis are situated here. Apart from their religious significance, some are a masterpiece depicting the architecture of their times. ''Mubarak Haveli'', ''Nisar Haveli'', Imam Bargh Akbar Ali Shah and ''Laal Haveli'' are, but a few examples. A Kebab Shop (Saeein Kabab Wala), two sweet marts (Fazal Sweets and Rafiq Sweets), a Traditional naan khatai bakers (Zahid Bakers) and an Old Khoo (water well) (Lal Khoo) are some of the well known features of Mohalla Shia. In front of the Laal Haveli is the Mochi Bagh and Ground. This, until recently, was a lush green patch with shady trees, Half of it is barren now due to its landscaping to become a "speaker's corner" in the light of its history of it having numerous renowned political leaders addressing the crowds at this place. Now this Ground of Garden (''bagh'') is used for wedding ceremonies by locals and for playing cricket by the local boys.

Mochi Bagh

Mochi Bagh/Garden (موچی باغ) is Pakistan's most famous political rally spot. Mochi Baagh is located on the immediate right of Mochi Gate. Many renowned political leaders of Pakistan and the per-independence era have delivered speeches here. Until the late 1980s, it was commonly held that unless a politician could deliver a speech to a packed Mochi Baagh crowd s/he was not worth his/her political salt. Currently, Mochi Bagh has been spoiled by the right half of it being encroached upon by heavy duty truck drivers using it as a parking stand in violation of public area laws. In March 2007, the PHA (Parks and Horticultural Authority) announced that maintenance works would be carried out in Mochi Baagh. Works proposed include the construction of a 27x33 (feet) stage, maintenance of stairs around the park, setting up of fountains, jogging tracks, the installation of benches and lights and the planting of grass. Since then there is no maintenance is done so the park is now in a bad shape

In popular culture

* In response to the opposition chanting slogans in the Pakistan assembly, the speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said “This is no Mochi Gate, Such slogans should not be raised in the assembly,”.

References

External links

Mochi Gate and the lost Barkat Ali Islamia Hall
''Daily Times'' Retrieved March 6, 2021
A Detailed Guide to Mochi Gate

Visit of Lahore
Gates of Lahore Populated places in Lahore District {{Lahore-geo-stub

Mochi Bagh

In popular culture

See also

References

External links