Id Gah Mosque

The Id Gah Mosque is a historic congregational mosque in the Id Gah neighbourhood of Kabul, long the traditional venue for the city's Eid prayers. The name id gah refers to an open prayer ground used for the festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, when very large crowds gather to pray together, and the mosque and its surroundings serve as the focus for those occasions. For most of the year the site is calmer, a neighbourhood mosque with a courtyard, a prayer hall and the surrounding streets of the district, where small shops, tea sellers and residential lanes reflect everyday Kabul life. The building is plainer than the more famous mosques of the Old City, and its interest lies in its role in the city's religious and social calendar rather than in elaborate decoration. A visit takes about 20 minutes, mostly for the exterior and courtyard, and visitors who wish to see inside should ask permission and avoid prayer times. Morning is the best time, when the area is quiet and the light is soft. Eid mornings are exceptionally crowded and are best observed from a respectful distance, if at all, as the occasion is a religious one. Entry is free. Modest dress is expected, with covered arms and legs, and women should carry a headscarf. A taxi from central Kabul costs roughly 80 to 150 AFN (approx $1-2). The neighbourhood is a good place to see a less touristed side of the city, and visitors can combine the stop with the nearby Ziyarat-e Sakhi shrine and Asmai hill. Photography should be discreet and always with permission when people are involved.