Boyuk Bazar Mosque: A Historical Landmark in Lankaran

The Boyuk Bazar Mosque, also known as the Great Bazaar Mosque, is a significant religious and architectural monument in Lankaran, Azerbaijan. Constructed in 1864 in the heart of the Boyuk Bazar neighborhood, the mosque has been a central part of the community for over a century. The mosque's construction was funded by local community members, including Kerbelayi Gulu, Kerbelayi Aghaqulu, Hacı Miragha, and other residents of the Boyuk Bazar area. The mosque derives its name from the neighborhood where it is located. The mosque's architecture reflects a rural Islamic style. The structure is 31.5 meters long and 12.7 meters wide, built with timber and baked bricks, and the roof is covered with ceramic tiles. The interior spans 500 square meters and can accommodate up to 550 worshippers, with a rectangular ceiling supported by six columns. The mosque complex includes a main building and auxiliary structures. A 36-meter minaret, constructed in 1995, stands next to the mosque. During the Soviet era, the mosque faced significant challenges. In 1928, the government began to suppress religious activities, and by 1938, the original minaret was demolished. From 1938 to 1980, the building was repurposed as a bakery, and later, from 1980 to 1990, it served as a photo gallery. After Azerbaijan regained its independence, the mosque was restored and included in the list of local significant immovable historical and cultural monuments on August 2, 2001. Today, the Boyuk Bazar Mosque is a working mosque and a registered religious community.