Glimpses from the Toronto Raptors NBA Championship Parade

Photos and report of the historic Toronto Raptors 2019 NBA Championship Parade by Malik Merchant.

Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre Draw Thousands during Doors Open Event Held in Toronto on May 25-26, 2019

More than 8,000 visitors attended the Doors Open event at the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre on May 25-26, 2019. This post captures the event through a selection of photographs.

Photos and Video: The Aga Khan Museum’s Superb 2018 Year-End Winter Outdoor Show, Light Up the Dark

By ABDULMALIK MERCHANT (Report and photos) and ZUL JIWANI (Video) The Aga Khan Museum Light Show, Sunday, December 30, 2018. Photo: Simergphotos/Malik Merchant. Tonight, December 31, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada,… Continue reading

4 rare photos of His Highness the Aga Khan at Dar es Salaam’s Aga Khan Boys Secondary School

Introduced by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT This is a collection of 4 rare pictures from Dar es Salaam that (Alwaez) Ali Rajabali shared with me during my visit to Vancouver. They should be of immense… Continue reading

Spain’s architectural masterpieces: The Al Hambra Palace in Granada and the Great Mosque in Cordoba through the Lens of Muslim Harji

The Magnificent Alhambra Palace and the Mosque of Cordoba Through the Lens of Muslim Harji.

In photos: “Life of Jehangir” – Ismaili missionary, teacher and writer who rendered long and dedicated services to the Jamat and the Imam-of-the-Time

In Photos: “Life of Jehangir” – Ismaili Missionary, Teacher and Writer who rendered long and dedicated services to the Jamat and the Imam of the Time.

Montreal’s Beautiful and Diverse Ismaili Faces Through the Lens of Muslim Harji

Montreal Harji’s photos of happy faces of Ismailis in Montreal mark the completion of a great 2017 for Ismailis around the world, and are symbolic of a fantastic 2018 with the continuation of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee!

Photos from our 2017 posts: From the site of the 48th Ismaili Imam’s Bagamoyo landing to the Diamond Jubilee visits of the 49th Imam His Highness the Aga Khan

A collection of photos from posts published in Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos during 2017.

An Eyewitness Account of the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017

“For two minutes, we were suspended in this bizarre, truly ethereal state — two minutes that passed much much too quickly. Next thing we knew, the second diamond ring appeared and it was… Continue reading

Bagamoyo Beach Landing, where Aga Khan III was the first Ismaili Imam ever to set foot on East African soil in 1899

By ZAHIR K. DHALLA (Special to Simergphotos). Bagamoyo Beach Landing. Photo: © Copyright Zahir K. Dhalla 2017. This is a present-day photo of Bagamoyo Beach, Tanzania, where sea-going vessels have dropped and weighed… Continue reading

After an Amazing Silk Road Journey to Xinjiang and Hunza, Seasoned and Intrepid Globetrotter Ali Karim Offers Great Traveling Tips to Our Readers

Ali and Dislhad Karim have been travelling since 1977. Their latest journey took them to numerous cities, towns and villages along the the Silk Road in Xinjiang, China, and Hunza, Pakistan. Here they… Continue reading

Silk Road Travelogue by Ali Karim: (6) In Hunza’s Capital, Karimabad – Named after Prince Karim Aga Khan

Ali and Dilshad Karim at Altit Fort, strategically located, precarious for enemies. Legends speak of the spot where they are standing as the capital punishment spot where enemies were simply pushed over the… Continue reading

Ismaili Jamat in Moscow Celebrates Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 80th Birthday with A Wonderful Cultural Show – Must See

Ismaili youth performing at Moscow concert against  a backdrop photo of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Tajikistan. Introduced by Abdulmalik Merchant The Luzhniki Sports Arena became the venue on December 11, 2016, for… Continue reading

33 Awesome Photos that Summarize Our 2016 Posts: From Historical Visits and Landmark Ceremonies of His Highness the Aga Khan to Fantastic Travelogues and Photo Essays

PREPARED BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT (Publisher/editor — Simergphotos, simerg and barakah) (The photos on this page are representative of some thirty photo pieces that we published in 2016. The photos are not shown in… Continue reading

“Horses” by Gulgee: An Exceptional Gift to His Highness the Aga Khan for His Landmark 80th Birthday

Ismail Gulgee Ismail Gulgee (1926 – 2007) COMPILED AND ADAPTED BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Editor/publisher, http://www.simergphotos.com Ismail Gulgee was born in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 1926. Since his childhood, Gulgee’s heart was in the visual arts. He dabbled in… Continue reading

Montreal’s Beautiful Celebration of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 80th Birthday Through the Lens of Muslim Harji

BY MUSLIM HARJI Cake and sherbet (2016 Salgirah celebration, Montreal headquarters jamatkhana). Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright. On December 13th and 17th, 2016, tens of thousands Ismailis across Canada gathered at their respective jamatkhanas… Continue reading

Silk Road Travelogue by Ali Karim: (5) Ismailis of Remote Northern Hunza Rise High Above the Tallest Peaks, and Set a Lasting Example for Us to Follow

Please send this page link to your friends and family members everywhere! (ed.) Ali Karim and his wife Dilshad at the banks of the Hunza river with the stunning Cathedral Peaks in the… Continue reading

PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly 10 Minute Segment on His Highness the Aga Khan and Extended Interview Worth Revisits

Introduced by Abdulmalik Merchant WATCH 2 VERY INTERESTING VIDEOS IN WIDE FORMAT AND READ TRANSCRIPT With an Advisory Aboard consisting of distinguished educators and scholars representing different faiths, the Religion & Ethic Newsweekly… Continue reading

Silk Road Travelogue By Ali Karim: (4) Scenes from Tashkurgan and an Encounter with an Ismaili Family, and the Drive to Northern Hunza on the Iconic Khunjerab Pass

BY ALI KARIM Spectacular scenery on the Karakorum Highway (KKH) during our drive from Kashgar to Tashkurgan, the very last town before the border between China and Pakistan. KKH runs approximately 1,300 km… Continue reading

Photo Essay: Sacred Spaces Through the Lens of Muslim Harji

BY MUSLIM HARJI INTRODUCTION: A sacred space is any space or area that has been dedicated for a religious or sacred purpose. All world religions have places set aside that are treated as… Continue reading

Silk Road Travelogue by Ali Karim: (3) More Kashgar and Spectacular Drive to Tashkurgan

BY ALI KARIM Please click on photos for enlargement. Spectacular scenery at Lake Karakul, located 12,000 ft above sea level. Photo: Ali Karim. Copyright. In this third piece of my multi-part travelogue on… Continue reading

Special Coverage – with an Exclusive Transcript – of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Visit to the UAE for the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

I. A Photo Summary of the Six Winning Projects BAIT UR ROUF MOSQUE, DHAKA, BANGLADESH Architect: Marina Tabassum A REFUGE FOR SPIRITUALITY IN URBAN DHAKA, SELECTED FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL USE OF NATURAL LIGHT.… Continue reading

Silk Road Travelogue by Ali Karim: (2) More of Turpan and Historic Kashgar

BY ALI KARIM A magnificent desert landscape outside Turpan. Photo: Ali Karim. Copyright. In this second installment of my multi-part travelogue on the Silk Road, I continue with more photos of my visit… Continue reading

Silk Road Travelogue by Ali Karim: (1) Shanghai, Urumqi and Turpan

Intrepid travellers Ali (right) and Dilshad enjoy a snack of noodles and tea at a local café in Urumqi during their “trip of a lifetime” to portions of the ancient Silk Road. Photo:… Continue reading

Photo Essay: The Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and its Surrounding Neighbourhood Through the Lens of Muslim Harji

BY MUSLIM HARJI This is the dargah of one of the most famous Sufi saints, Nizamuddin Auliya. Situated in Nizamuddin West, it also houses the tomb of poet Amir Khusro and Mughal princess… Continue reading

Renaye Tejani, a 12 Year Old Ismaili Girl in Mumbai Spreads Joy Through Baking for Charity

Prepared by Abdulmalik Merchant with the assistance of Rheanne Tejani Few can resist the temptation of freshly baked goodies. They take you back to your childhood and bring a smile to your face.… Continue reading

Riyaan Maherali: My Ismaili Jubilee Games Hero – Adnan Dahlvani of Team USA Blue

BY RIYAAN MAHERALI Adnan Dahlvani of Team USA with brothers Qayl (left) and Riyaan (right), both wearing the FC Barcelona soccer camp jerseys. I first met Adnan on my way to the Global… Continue reading

Letters and Photographs of His Highness the Aga Khan from the Family Archives of the Late Mr. Frank Pattrick

ELECTRONIC IMAGES AND PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY MS. LINDA BAXTER Mr. Frank Pattrick (d. 1991) with his wife Mrs. Doris Pattrick (d. 2002). Mr. Pattrick worked for His Highness the Aga Khan in Kenya… Continue reading

A “Must See” Video of Pure Joy: Ismaili Jubilee Games Lantern Travels Across Pakistan Amid Scenes of Jubilation and Heightened Interest in Games to be Held in Dubai

“I DREAM OF PEACE,” SAYS THIS YOUNG BOY IN A FANTASTIC WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR THE FANOUS IN PAKISTAN BY SULTAN JESSA From some of the densest urban areas to the remotest corners of… Continue reading

The Ismaili Jubilee Games’ Lantern is Welcomed to the Ismaili Centre and the Children’s Soccer Camp in Burnaby

BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Publisher-editor, Simergphotos and Simerg A boy proudly holds the Ismaili Jubilee Games lantern on Sunday, June 19, 2016, at the annual soccer camp which is being attended by 198 young… Continue reading

A Civil Society Endeavour: Ismaili Educators Helping Educate Marginalised Children in Nairobi

Editor’s note: Inspired by the message of His Highness the Aga Khan on the important role that individuals can play to drive progress and positive change, a team of dedicated Ismaili educators established… Continue reading

A Phenomenal One-of-a-Kind Experience in Yellowstone, the World’s Very First National Park, Through the Lens of Nurin Merchant

In Yellowstone, Everything is a Stone’s Throw Away BY NURIN MERCHANT Five years ago, in the summer of 2011, my dad took me to visit two of his most favourite places on earth,… Continue reading

In Vancouver’s World Partnership Walk, Participants Take Millions of Steps to Fight Global Poverty and Give Hope to Countless Lives

Photos by Abdulmalik Merchant Publisher–Editor, Simerg and Simergphotos IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER:  If you appear in any photo and wish to receive a high resolution Jpeg version of the image for your… Continue reading

Photographs of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan at Parliament Hill by Jean-Marc Carisse

Photographs: Jean-Marc Carisse Text compilation: Abdulmalik Merchant, Editor, Simerg/Simergphotos His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, was warmly received by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau… Continue reading

Ismaili History in the Making: 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Visits Portugal and Introduces the First Five Senior Officials of the Imamat to Country’s President

Portugal’s President Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa receives Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, at the Palácio de Belém on May 11, 2016, during an official 2-day visit to the… Continue reading

A Former Standard 3 Ismaili Student of Aga Khan Primary School, Nairobi, Shares Memorable Photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 1966 Visit to School

INTRODUCED BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Publisher-Editor of Simerg, Simergphotos and Ismailitica Juby Sprake (maiden name Juby Alibhai) of Vancouver, British Columbia, was recently introduced to this photo blog. To our delight, within days of… Continue reading

Exclusive: Photos of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s Visit to Dar-es-Salaam and other East African Photos by the Late Abdul M. Ismaily (“Papa Jaan”)

1. Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan meets a delegation during a visit to Tanzania sometime between 1966 and 1970 while serving UNHCR. Photo: Abdul M. Ismaily. Copyright. Editor’s Note: During his long tenure from the early 1960’s to 1976 as either the Deputy… Continue reading

Egyptian President Sisi’s Memorial Photo with African Heads of State and His Highness the Aga Khan

Please click on photo for enlargement Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C) takes a memorial photo with other heads of state and government and the participating delegations during the Africa 2016 Business for… Continue reading

Exclusive: Photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Visit to Pakistan by the Late Abdul M. Ismaily (“Papa Jaan”)

Editor’s Note: Our multi-part series of photos of His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam, taken by the late Rai Abdul M. Ismaily (1926-1981), lovingly known as “Papa Jaan,” continues with this… Continue reading

Photos of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Visits to East Africa by Azhar Chaudhry

Editor’s Notes: Following the recent publication of historical photos taken by “Papa Jaan” in Hunza and Uganda during the early 1960’s, we are pleased to publish an important collection of photographs of His… Continue reading

Exclusive: Photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Visit to Uganda by the Late Abdul M. Ismaily (“Papa Jaan”)

Editor’s Note: Our multi-part series of photos of His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam, taken by the late Abdul M. Ismaily, lovingly known as “Papa Jaan,” continues with this post containing… Continue reading

Exclusive: Photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 1960 Visit to Hunza by the Late Abdul M. Ismaily (“Papa Jaan”)

Editor’s note: The following exclusive photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Hunza were captured in 1960 by the late Abdul M. Ismaily, lovingly known as “Papa Jaan” by his family and friends,… Continue reading

Photos of Visits by Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Aly Khan to Mozambique in the late 1950’s

Date posted:  February 6, 2016. ________________ We welcome feedback/letters from our readers on the essay. Please use the Comments box which appears below. Your feedback may be edited for length and brevity, and… Continue reading

Photo Essay: Tajikistan Landscapes Through the Lens of Muslim Harji

A map of Tajikistan with surrounding countries. Among the places Muslim Harji visited with his wife, Nevin, during his adventurous and heart warming trip to Tajikistan were Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, and the autonomous… Continue reading

A Historic Handshake Between Two Faith Leaders, His Highness the Aga Khan and Pope Benedict XVI

COMPILED AND PREPARED BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor http://www.simerg.com and http://www.simergphotos.com) As part of his famous Apostolic Journey to France in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI, on September 13, paid a visit to the “Institut De… Continue reading

Ottawa Diary: “Deja Vu” – Ottawa’s Familiar Winter Day Not Worthy of a Photo, Really?

BY MALIK MERCHANT Publisher-Editor, http://www.simergphotos.com and http://www.simerg.com Blowing snow from my landlord’s snow-blower as he clears one of the side walks used by tenants. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simerg.  There is nothing unfamiliar about these… Continue reading

His Highness the Aga Khan’s 2015 Speeches in the UK and USA Tell Marvellous Stories About the Al-Azhar Park and Convey a Profound Message of Our Common Humanity

Prepared and compiled by Abdulmalik Merchant (Publisher-Editor, http://www.simergphotos.com and http://www.simerg.com) Please click on the following NASA earth night time image for enlargement On either side of His Highness the Aga Khan’s thumbnail images,… Continue reading

Photo Diary: A (Very) Green Christmas Day in Ottawa

BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, http://www.simergphotos.com and http://www.simerg.com) “We haven’t seen anything like this in 53 years,” a member of a family told me outside her home across from Dow’s Lake. There were throngs of… Continue reading

Photo Diary: One of the World’s Coldest Capitals, Ottawa, on Christmas Eve 2015

By Abdulmalik Merchant No, not for moment – this is not our photo of the day, because this is how Ottawa would typically look like on a winter day, with people enjoying skating… Continue reading

A Memorable Photo Essay: The Travels and Accomplishments of His Highness the Aga Khan in 2015: (II) Canada, India and Greece

PREPARED AND COMPILED BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, http://www.Simergphotos.com and http://www.Simerg.com) A beautiful panoramic photo of the Aga Khan Museum (left) and the Ismaili Centre (right), connected by  the all-season Aga Khan Park. The Museum… Continue reading