Hello everyone
How are you guys today? I hope and pray that all of us are always in good health and happy in living this life. Every problem and challenge in life has a solution. We just need to try and be patient to get through it, if we feel our problems are too heavy, maybe we need to travel or travel to places that can give us inspiration or new enthusiasm and hope to go through the problems we face.
One of the places that might be suitable for those of us who are depressed is to go to spiritual places such as historic mosques, old churches or temples that have been around for decades. These places of worship are very interesting to visit because they are witnesses of civilization. Like my trip when I came to Tanjung Pura District, which is located in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra province – Indonesia. I visited the old city and also went on a spiritual journey at the Azizi Grand Mosque in Tanjung Pura.
About Tanjung Pura District
Tanjung Pura District or also known as Tanjung Pura City is one of the districts administratively located in Langkat Regency. This district has a long history to tell specifically, it might take a few posts to explain. However, I try to simplify it so that friends can relate to my post. Geographically, the Tanjung Pura District was formed through a community of fishermen and pirates who would go to sea to the Malacca Strait. These fishermen are communal and form strong villages and communities. The people in Tanjung Pura are mostly Malay, and my grandfather (my maternal grandfather) is a native of Tanjung Pura, so I still have several families in this district who are quite close.
Over time, when the regions formed a strong sultanate or kingdom, Tanjung Pura was transformed into the center of government of the Langkat Sultanate which had triumphed in the 1869-1946 decade before the era of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Unfortunately, the Langkat Sultanate was destroyed and devastated by the civil war of the East Sumatra Revolution, this tragedy burned the Langkat palace and the famous poet in Southeast Asia at that time, Prince Amir Hamzah died.
There is not much else we can see about the evidences of the Langkat Sultanate, but Tanjung Pura as an old city still maintains the landscape and shape of the city model. Since I came to this district at the age of six until now, Tanjung Pura has not changed. However, we can still see the remnants of the glory of the Langkat Sultanate from one relic, namely the Azizi Tanjung Pura Grand Mosque and I always try to take the time to come to this mosque when passing through this city.
Tanjung Pura Azizi Grand Mosque
Tanjung Pura Azizi Mosque is located at Mesjid Street no. 1 Tanjung Pura District, Langkat Regency. This mosque stands majestically in the center of civilization in this old city. This mosque complex building has an area of about 1.8 hectares. Previously, in the era of the Langkat Sultanate, there was also an imperial court building in this mosque complex, but it was destroyed due to the social revolution in 1946. About 300 meters from the mosque complex, it is the location of the Langkat Sultanate Palace which was also destroyed by the social revolution in 1946. Currently , the former location of the Langkat Sultanate Palace has become a government-owned high school.
One irony and may also present a question for friends. Why was this mosque not burned down by the time of the Sumatran revolution in 1946? from history books, the tragedy was very bloody because almost all the palaces of the sultanate, the sultan and his family were also massacred and died. In my analysis, this mosque was not destroyed or burned because the majority of the perpetrators of the social revolution were also Muslims who after the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Indonesia became republicans who were anti-monarchical.
In that era, there were still many people who supported the Langkat Sultanate and if the revolution did damage or destroy this mosque, there would definitely be a civil war and even a religious war and the Azizi Mosque still survives to this day and is the grandest evidence of the Langkat Sultanate.
From the records of the mosque's inscription, we know that this mosque was completed in 1902. At that time, the construction was very different from local mosques in North Sumatra which were usually only in the form of a room with pillars. The process of making this mosque got a lot of help from the Dutch colonialists such as architects and development consultants. The Langkat Sultanate also benefits from the geographical location of the Batang Serangan River, which was once still very large and has not experienced abrasion. In those years, Batang Serangan River was still passable by large tonnage ships so that marble, ceramics, pillars could be imported from ports in Singapore and Malaysia.
The design and architecture of the Tanjung Pura Azizi Mosque is very unique because it combines Malay, Persian and European touches that we can see from the pillars and windows. We can see a touch of Malay design from the yellow and green colors chosen to color this building. A touch of Persian or middle east, shown by the large domes used in this mosque.
I have come to this Azizi Mosque several times and my visit this time maybe the moment I came this time was the moment I got the best shape and view of this mosque. When I came to this Azizi Mosque, the condition of the mosque was being renovated and restored. We can see the color of yellow paint that is still new and shiny. Once in a while with conditions several years earlier that looked dull and poorly maintained.
Try friends, see some photos of this mosque building. It looks very beautiful and charming. The structure of the dome, the pillars, and the calligraphy carvings were revitalized very well so that we can feel the impression of the glory of the Langkat Sultanate from looking at this mosque.
I asked one of the parking staff at this mosque, whose idea was to renovate the biggest mosque in Langkat. According to his statement, one of the national legislators who initiated the restoration of this mosque. This legislator is a son of the Langkat area who cares about his hometown. I am very happy, at least there are legislators who care about their constituents. Revitalization is very important for this historic building and it is great when the government is involved and also cares. Hopefully my story can provide information and inspiration for all of us.
Call me Isdarmady, because I have a full name that is very long, namely Isdarmady Syahputra Ritonga. I am a head of the family who work as Farmers Vegetables Hydroponic and Consultant Hydroponics, sometimes I also sell coffee from various regions in Indonesia.
I have expertise dispensing coffee with a variety of techniques and tools brewing, because I have the desire to make a coffee shop with hydroponics as centerpieces. Help me realize that dream.
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