Keeping tradition of feeding pigeons alive

Hussainialam: Gutarghoo, Ghutargoo, Coo roo-c'too-coo, oh-oo-oor and oorhh and many types of pleasing chirping of hundreds of pigeons welcome the visitor to Baraah Galli in Hussainialam.

When people who are attracted to these sounds enter the lane, they get to see themselves a huge cage like structure where hundreds of pigeons dwell. It is the only Kabootar Khana(pigeon's dwelling place) left in the Old City and famously known as 'Purana Kabootar Khana'.

With the mushrooming high rise buildings around the 2-centuries old structure made it barely visible from a distance. This area continues to retain its name and identified with the same name, Kabootar Khana, which very few from other parts of the city recognize with its historical background.

The oldest Kabootar Khana of the city remains intact in the Hussainialam area, thanks to the active patronage of the descendants of the man who was the original designer and builder. Built by Siddiq Ibrahim Shah, who loved birds and wanted them to provide with food and shelter, his descendants continue to serve about 1,000 pigeons at a time.

Siddiq Ibrahim Shah was the descendant of Qutub Shahi dynasty and this Kabootar Khana was patronized by both the descendants of Asafjahi and Quli shahi, because of their penchant for the winged friends. Ibrahim Shah was a Sufi saint, whose final resting place is in Bahadurpura. Speaking to The Hans India, Syed Ibrahim Ali, the current caretaker of Kabootar Khana, informed that it is the oldest in the Old city, which was built more than 200 years back. Now, the great grandson of the builder Ibrahim Ali continues his family's tradition and providing space for the pigeons.

Elaborating more, Ibrahim Ali said that this Kabootar Khana was built in almost 100 sq yd of space, which has more than 180 holes. While some of the holes are made up of sand pots, this adds up to 200 holes, which lay in front the open space. In total, this place accommodates around 800 to 1,000 birds. "Usually the pigeons do not leave their place and ever since the Kabootar Khana came into existence it has remained a dwelling place of these birds, which did not desert and generations have passed on the place to younger ones", he pointed out.

Speaking about the care of the pigeons, Ibrahim Ali said that this Kabootar Khana has been under regular care since the days of his great grand father. Currently he along with his three brothers is taking care of it. "Inshallah (God willing), this tradition will continue by our next generations, too. We also take care of the structure and carry out repairs in case of any damage," he noted.

"To these hundreds of birds we feed 12 kgs of jowar and also a mixture of dals etc daily. Members of all communities and nearby residents also come here to feed the birds," he added.

Daily in the early morning and in evening hours locals also feed the birds, as hundreds of birds descend from all over the place at the Kabootar Khana. "While feeding these birds it will be an amazing feeling, as hundreds of birds can be seen at a time", said Syed Taj Sufi Quadri, resident of Kabootar Khana.