Big Bazar Mosque, mosque in Lankaran, Azerbaijan
Big Bazar Mosque is a mosque in Lankaran, Azerbaijan built with traditional design and red brick walls. The rectangular structure has a main prayer hall with six supporting columns, a tiled roof, and a 36-meter tall minaret that was rebuilt in 1995 after being destroyed in 1938.
The mosque was built in 1864 by community members including Kerbelayi Gulu and Hacı Miragha under master builder Hadı's direction. During the Soviet era it was closed in 1928, the minaret was torn down in 1938, and it served as a warehouse and library until Azerbaijan gained independence and recognized it as a cultural monument in 2001.
The mosque takes its name from the Great Bazaar, a busy marketplace in central Lankaran, reflecting its connection to daily community life. It serves as a gathering place for prayers, religious celebrations, and meetings where local traditions are kept alive and passed down through generations.
The mosque is located in central Lankaran next to the busy marketplace and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing and follow the customary practices of a place of worship, especially when prayers are taking place.
During the Soviet era the building served multiple practical purposes starting in the 1930s: first as a bakery, then converted to a photo gallery, and later as a library. This unexpected transformation shows how the community held onto hope for its restoration as a place of worship despite being repurposed for completely different uses.
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