Rebuilt with ₹2.1 crore pooled from Muslims, Hindus, and Christians, the 72‑year‑old Badriya Juma Masjid, Kuppepadavu, now gleams as a living emblem of inter‑faith solidarity.
- Design & Supervision – Local engineer Praneeth Rai drafted the renovation blueprint.
- Sculptural Brilliance – Master wood‑carver Raj Sagar (Shivamogga) led a dozen artisans from the GSB and Vishwakarma communities, chiselling for 14 months to craft ornate façades and spellbinding teak‑door panels.
- Community Gifting – Hindu and Christian neighbours donated timber and building supplies, while carpenter Ravi Poojari marshalled joinery crews to weave the pieces together.
Masjid Committee president Mohammed Shareef Kaje highlighted the painstaking handiwork: lattice windows echo coastal temple motifs; arabesque ceilings blend Deccan geometry and local floral patterns; gold‑tipped finials crown the dome, reflecting the western sun. Roughly ₹1.2 crore went into woodwork alone, transforming the prayer hall into a gallery of shared heritage.
The grand opening on Friday, 16 May, drew clerics, temple trustees, and parish priests who offered joint prayers for peace. Food stalls ringed the complex, serving biryani beside payasam, while schoolchildren recited verses on harmony.
Beyond worship, the revamped mosque plans free evening tuition for village youth and a weekly health camp—amplifying its role as a civic anchor. In a time of polarised headlines, Kuppepadavu’s mosaic of hands and hearts chisels a brighter narrative: faiths can co‑create beauty, one carved beam at a time.
Read also: