Indo Islamic Heritage
Purani Masjid is a local mosque located in Marafari, Bokaro Steel City, in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, India. Serving as an important place of Islamic worship within the community, this mosque is used by Muslims in the area for the five daily prayers (Salat), the Friday (Jumu’ah) congregational prayer, and religious gatherings during major Islamic occasions such as Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Eid-ul-Adha. While not officially documented as a historically protected site, it holds significance as a longstanding neighbourhood mosque within Bokaro’s diverse urban fabric.
Purani Masjid is a community mosque located in the Marafari locality of Bokaro Steel City, within Jharkhand, India. Bokaro Steel City was developed in the mid-20th century around the Bokaro Steel Plant and has since grown into a significant industrial and residential centre, hosting people from varied cultural and religious backgrounds. The city’s urban neighbourhoods, such as Marafari, Siwandih, Chas, Bharra, and surrounding areas, feature numerous mosques that support the spiritual needs of the Muslim population.  Situated within the 827010 postal area, Purani Masjid’s approximate geographic coordinates are 23.6458071° N latitude and 86.0904004° E longitude, placing it in the Marafari/Siwandih section of Bokaro Steel City. This location integrates it into the day-to-day rhythm of city life, making it easily accessible for local residents who attend daily prayers and community gatherings. Unlike prominent historic mosques that may be centuries old with well-documented construction histories, Purani Masjid does not have a publicly available record detailing the year it was built. This situation is common for many “local” or community-established mosques in Indian urban settings, where places of worship are built and maintained by residents to meet growing neighbourhood needs rather than through formal patronage by historic rulers or institutions. Purani Masjid functions as an active religious centre, where Muslims from Marafari and nearby localities gather for the five daily prayers (Salat), which structure the spiritual rhythm of daily life. The mosque becomes especially central on Fridays, when the Jumu’ah congregational prayer brings larger numbers of worshippers together for a combined midday prayer and khutbah (sermon). During the holy month of Ramadan, the mosque commonly hosts extended evening prayers (Tarawih) and communal iftars (breaking of the fast), fostering both devotion and community unity. Major festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha also draw significant attendance, with special prayer services and celebrations held within and around the mosque grounds. Architecturally, Purani Masjid reflects the practical design characteristic of many urban neighbourhood mosques in India: a prayer hall oriented toward the Qibla (direction of Mecca), facilities for ablution (wudu), and open or covered areas spacious enough to accommodate worshippers during peak attendance times. While it may not feature in lists of officially designated heritage sights, its importance as a living place of worship and community gathering underscores its role within the Islamic cultural landscape of Bokaro Steel City.
Year of Built: NA
Address: J3WR+85C, Marafari, Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand 827010
Country: India
State: Jharkhand
District: Bokaro
Pincode: 827010
Longitude: 86.0904004° E
Latitude: 23.6458071° N