Video: The Lovely Sounds of Chirping Birds at Aga Khan Park, With a Quick 360° Tour of the Aga Khan Museum and Jamatkhana

Video and Commentary by MALIK MERCHANT
Publisher/Editor  Simergphotos, Barakah and Simerg

No creature is there crawling on the earth, no bird flying with its wings, but they are nations like unto yourselves. We have neglected nothing in the Book; then to their Lord they shall be mustered. — Holy Quran, 6:38 (Translation by A.J. Arberry)

The birds, you will recall [in Attar’s great poem, the Conference of the Birds] in huge quantities went in search of the Simurgh, the ideal and perfect king. After many tribulations, thirty of them do reach the end of the journey and come to the gate of the Supreme Majesty. The Chamberlain tests them and then opens the door and they sit on the masnad, the seat of the Majesty and Glory — His Highness the Aga Khan, Lahore, Pakistan October 23, 1980 (read speech)

The following is a short video taken on March 30, 2021 in which you can hear beautiful sounds of chirping birds at the grounds of the Aga Khan Park in Toronto. The video also takes you quickly around the front section of the Park that divides two other magnificent projects built by Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan, the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum.

Note: Please read the correction notes that have been added at the end of the post.

Corrections:

(1) At the end of the video, I have referred to the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome as the dome of the Ismaili Centre. The Headquarters Ismaili Jamatkhana is an extension of the Ismaili Centre Toronto but also part of it. The Jamatkhana is a unique building in its own right. My commentary should have therefore referred to the dome as that of the Ismaili Jamatkhana, as I did in the earlier part of the video.

(2). The Green and Red flag used by Ismailis for decades was once upon a time referred to as “MY FLAG.” This is no longer the case. I have however inadvertently referred to it as the “Flag of the Ismaili Imamat” in the video report as well as in many other articles and photos on this and other sister websites. The flag without the monogram or crest (taj) of the Ismaili Imamat should simply be referred to as “The Ismaili Flag” as mentioned in the Ismaili Constitution. The flag inscribed with the monogram is only used during Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visits, at official signing agreements where he is present, on his planes, and at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building in Ottawa. The Ismaili Flag on Wynford Drive does not include the crest but is replaced with a flag with the crest and called the Ismaili Imamat Flag when Mawlana Hazar Imam visits the site.

Date posted: March 31, 2021.

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