The lavishness and piety shown by Mughal emperors when designing their classic monuments come to mind when one steps into the majestic portals of the Burhani Masjid at Gottigere village off Bannerghatta Road.
The mosque holds pride of place chiefly due to the Fatami architecture used in its construction and the gold engravings inside its hallowed precincts.  

 That the entire construction has been financed by the members of Dawoodi Bohra community in Bangalore speaks volumes about the social commitment of the group. One cannot escape from the gold letterings sprinkled elegantly on the walls of this religious place.
The mosque is decorated with 100 names of Allah inscribed in pure gold. Replicas of verses of Quran Majeed inscribed in various Fatemi mosques in Egypt have also been inscribed in gold, says Firoz T Totanawala, a representative of the  community.
The word `Ya Hussain’ handwritten by His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb and etched in gold is something eyecatching.
The marsiya of Ya Syeda Shohadai penned by the 51st Dai Dr Syedna Taher Saifuddin that depicts the tragic event of Karbala where the grandson of Prophet Mohammed was martyred is also inscribed in the yellow metal.
The qibla or the front semi-circled portion from where the Imam leads the prayers is a replica of the qibla found in the 1,100-year old masjid of Maulatena Hurrat-ul-Maleka located in Zizibla, Yemen that  depicts the glory of Fatemi Imams.
 It is intricately carved in marble and gold giving it a classic look. 
Over 4,000 people can offer namaz in this spacious venue.  The masjid is 65 ft x 82 ft and the extension of the mosque (Sehan) measures 80`x 40’.
The sehan, which is generally left open, is covered here thereby making it an extension of the masjid. 

Unique elevation
Another stunning sight is the elevation of the new masjid.
This is a blend of two ancient mosques of Egypt built in the ninth and tenth centuries, the Al-Azhar and Al-Anwar.
There are five chandeliers made in the shape of flowers in the main hall, which are symbolic of the garden city of Bangalore. 

Teak pillars
The pillars are made of teakwood reminiscent of classic old buildings.  Much of the construction is in marble. The floors are also carpeted throughout. The exact cost could not be estimated but it runs into several crores, Firoz said.
Two floors of the Masjid are earmarked only for women with separate entrance gates.
 It is equipped with excellent audio and video systems with flat televisions and 150 mikes which are utilised during important religious occasions. The mikes have been neatly embedded inside the walls.
Much thought has been gone to make it safe and convenient for the devout with the staircases constructed wide to permit easy movement. 
The Gottigere mosque was inaugurated in February by Syedna Mohammed Burhanudddin Saheb, the spiritual head of the community. He had come to the City after 22 years for the function.
According to Fatemi culture, the settlement and development of societies should ideally be around the mosque. In keeping with it, 150 families of the community live in the vicinity of the mosque. Many more of the 850 families of the Dawoodi Bohra community living in the City are expected to relocate near the mosque. The Burhani masjid with its numerous attractions is bound to emerge as a key tourist destination in the City.
The excellent maintenance of the mosque reminds one of the time-worn proverb `Cleanliness is next to Godliness,’ very apt too in this case.
 The pigeons cooing above as well as the soothing coolness inside the pristine monument make you feel intuitively closer to God.