Alone at Aga Khan Park on a Beautiful Full Moon Night
Malik Merchant spent the whole night at the Aga Khan Park enjoying the sight of the Full Moon on July 5, 2020. Here is his story and photos.
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A Beautiful Rendition of Nashid al Imamah by Afraaz Mulji at Aga Khan Museum
Ismaili musician Afraaz Mulji performs at the Aga Khan Museum and on July 11, 2020 plays a rendition of the Nashid al Imamah.
Photos: In and around the Aga Khan Museum, as it reopens after more than a 100 days
Malik Merchant visits the beautiful Aga Khan Museum on its reopening and provides photos and his experience with Covid-19 guidelines in place!
Countdown to the Aga Khan Museum’s Reopening: Ponds are filled with water, and even the Heech is smiling
A collection of glorious photos taken by Malik Merchant, as a countdown to the reopening of the Aga Khan Museum on June 27, 2020.
An inspiring walk through the Aga Khan Park in Toronto, in the midst of Covid-19 physical distancing
Story by MALIK MERCHANT Publisher-Editor Simergphotos, Simerg, and Barakah with photographs by the author and SHAFIN JAMAL A close-up of a tulip at the Aga Khan Park, Toronto. The tulip is seasonal, and blooms in… Continue reading
Barcelona’s world famous La Boqueria market through the lens of Muslim Harji
A delightful photo essay by Montreal’s Muslim Harji on the world famous La Boqueira market in Barcelona’s Las Ramblas district.
Photo Essay: Story of an East African Ismaili Autograph Book
A photo essay on a unique Ismaili authograph book from East Africa that was first purchased by the autograph collector Zeenat Jamal in 1950. PLEASE CLICK AND SHARE THIS POST.
2019 Fall Rhapsody: A Superabundance of Autumn Colours in Canada’s National Capital Region, Ottawa and Gatineau, that no City in the World can (Ever) Match
Magnificent photos of fall colours in the National Capital Region of Canada – Ottawa, Ontario, and Gatineau, Quebec.
A Day Trip to Fabulous Algonquin Park, Canada
Dr. Nurin Merchant and her dad, Malik, spent a fabulous day at Algonquin Park and enjoyed the park’s trails, sights, scenery and autumn foliage. This post includes remarkable pictures from their 12 hour trip, and highlights what can be accomplished during a day’s trip, even if you are travelling from Ottawa or Toronto! The post captures nature at its finest.
Aga Khan Museum displays amazing and inspiring photography by high school youth focusing on the world of tomorrow
Amazing photography by youth for you to see at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto until September 15, 2019. These are wonderful photos that display the vision of the youth who participated in a photography workshop during the summer. If you are in Toronto, you must visit this exhibition. It will inspire everyone!
The Hajj: An Amazing Collection of 19th/20th Century Photos from the US Library of Congress
Compiled by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos) THE PILGRIMS’ JOURNEY TO MECCA Between 1900 – 1920. To Sinai via the Red Sea, Tor, and Wady Hebran. Mecca pilgrims on deck a ship. Photo: US Library… Continue reading
Iconic Photos: 50th Anniversary of Man’s First Landing on the Moon, and the Aga Khan Museum’s Festival on July 20-21, 2019 to Celebrate the Historic Moment
Every reader will be gripped and inspired by the iconic images and text that have been painstakingly gathered from NASA’s archives of Apollo 11’s voyage and landing of man on the moon on July 20, 1969. A must read and share post!
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
Ali Karim and his wife Dilshad at the banks of the Hunza river with the stunning Cathedral Peaks in the background. The foot of the mountains at the right is etched with 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