Mawlana Hazar Imam receives honorary degree from Trinity College.

"A man who is perhaps the only person in the world to whom everyone listens."

Mawlana Hazar Imam receives honorary degree from Trinity College at the University of Toronto.

Toronto, 25 November 2013 — The University of Toronto’s Trinity College held a special convocation this evening, to bestow upon Mawlana Hazar Imam the degree of Doctor of Sacred Letters, honoris causa.
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Emirates flies in to Kabul, Afghanistan

Emirates has announced it is to commence a daily passenger service to Khwaja Rawash Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan from December 4th 2013.

The daily flight to Afghanistan’s capital city will be the first destination in the country which Emirates has served.

The route will be operated by an Airbus A340-500 configured in a three cabin configuration, offering 12 First Class, 42 Business Class and 204 Economy Class seats.

“Emirates has identified a demand for a premium service airline offering between Dubai and Kabul.
“With this new route Emirates will be able to offer passengers travelling to and from the city excellent global connections via Dubai, combined with the award-winning product and service the airline is renowned for.
“This includes operating the only First Class cabin between Dubai and Kabul”, said Barry Brown, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, commercial operations east.

We expect the flight to be particularly popular with corporate business travellers, as well as Afghan nationals returning home to visit friends and family.

“It will also present a new opportunity for cargo operations to the country, particularly for the shipment of pharmaceuticals, perishable foodstuffs and construction materials.”

EK 640 will depart Dubai daily at 09:55 and arrive in Kabul at 13:15.
EK 641 will leave Kabul at 15:30 hours and arrive back in Dubai at 18:00.

Kabul will be the 138th destination on the Emirates route network, following shortly after the commencement of services to Clark, Philippines on October 1st, Conakry, Guinea on October 27th and Sialkot, Pakistan on November 5th 2013.

Contact Ismaili Travel for all your travel needs.

www.IsmailiTravel.com

Eid-e-Ghadir Mubarak to the Global Ismaili Muslims.

Salim-Sulaiman We Are So Proud Of You! From Bismillah to Shukran Lillah wal Hamdo Lillah

Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hain 12th October 2013... by dm_523595081e6ef

Bollywood's musical duo Salim-Sulaiman take you on a tour to their childhood memories. Mashallah starting the journey from Jamat Khana, proudly showing off their participation in scouts. Then taking you to their father's musical instrument's factory on Mohammedali Road, and on to their house and school.
You have to see this video, and we guarantee that you will feel the Ismaili Pride in your hearts.
Salim-Sulaiman, may Mowla bless you with lot of success and humilty.
Ameen!

His Highness the Aga Khan poses for a photograph with Salim Merchant (R) and Sulaiman Merchant (L) along with other performers at the conclusion of the institutional dinner

Prince Amyn Aga Khan opening Serena Masai Mara Oct 2013

Walk the talk with The Aga Khan - NDTV interviews Mawlana Hazar Imam on campus at the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad

Hazir Imam India Visit 2013 - Jamati Institiutions Dinner

Story of a brave survivor - an Ismaili teenager

May Mowla give her Physical and Spiritual strength and long life.What a brave girl!
Proud to be Ismaili!

Ismaili Mother and Daughter killed in Nairobi Mall attack

May their souls rest in eternal peace. Ameen.

Ladies You Have Got To Read This !

Top 5 Mumbai Markets

These days, Mumbai is known more for its designer shops and malls than its markets. However, if you're after a bargain, fabulous photo opportunities, or some interesting souvenirs to take back home, you won't be disappointed. Head to these top Mumbai markets.

1. Colaba Causeway

The everyday carnival that is the Colaba Causeway market is a shopping experience like no other in Mumbai. Geared especially towards tourists, that infamous Indian saying of "sab kuch milega" (you'll get everything) certainly applies at this market. Dodge persistent balloon and map sellers, as you meander along the sidewalk and peruse the stalls. Want your name written on a grain of rice? That's possible too. If you need a break from shopping, pop into Leopold's Cafe or Cafe Mondegar, two well known Mumbai hangouts.

• What to Buy: Handicrafts, books, jewelry, crystals, brass items, incense, clothes. 

Chor Bazaar

Navigate your way through crowded streets and crumbling buildings, and you'll find Chor Bazaar, nestled in the heart of Muslim Mumbai. This fascinating market has a history spanning more than 150 years. Its name means "thieves market", but this was derived from the British mispronunciation of the its original name of Shor Bazaar, "noisy market". Eventually stolen goods started finding their way into the market, resulting in it living up to its new name! 

• What to Buy: Antiques, bronze items, vintage items, trash & treasure. 

Linking Road

A fusion of modern and traditional, and East meets West, in one of Mumbia's hippest suburbs. Here streets stalls contrast with brand name shops, and you'll find an Indian roadside food vendor on one side of the road and a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet on the other. The street stalls tend to be grouped together according to the type of goods they sell. If you visit this market on a Sunday, be prepared for the crowds!

• What to Buy: Indian traditional clothes, children's clothes, shoes, bags, belts. 

Crawford Market

If you want to see how the locals shop, head to Crawford Market. This old-style market, housed in an historic colonial building, specializes in wholesale fruit and vegetables. It's also got an entire section devoted to pets of all shapes, sizes, and breeds.

• What to Buy: Fruit, vegetables, food, flowers, birds, fish, and other pets. 

 

Fashion Street

Fashion Street is literally just that -- a street lined with fashion! There are around 150 stalls there. The market attracts hoards of teenagers and college students, who come to grab the latest western clothes and fake brand names at cheap prices.

• What to Buy: Clothes, shoes, belts.  

 

Don't Forget to visit Hasnabad Jamatkhana in your fine clothes.

Photo Credit: Mr. Shaukat Chandani.

Photo Credit: Mr. Shaukat Chandani.

Contact Ismaili Travel for excellent Airfares and Hotel Deals.

www.IsmailiTravel.com

 

Welcome Hazir Imam to Bangladesh 2013 visit

Travelling to Bangladesh?

Did you know?

Bangladesh is sometimes called “the playground of seasons” because it has six – not four – separate seasons, which it calls grismo (summer), barsha (rainy), sharat (autumn), hemanto (cool), sheet (winter), and bashonto (spring).

The Royal Bengal Tiger is Bangladesh’s national animal. This majestic creature has a roar that can be heard up to 3 kilometers away. Unfortunately, it is now an endangered species.

More than half of Bangladesh’s population is composed of farmers.

Despite the prevalence of farmers in Bangladesh, its export earnings come mainly from the garments industry.

To make sure that your stay is going to be pleasant and that you won’t experience cyclones and other disastrous weather disturbances, it is best that you 

time your visit to Bangladesh during the cold season, from the months of December to March.

What to do in Bangladesh

Go on a safari adventure

Get your fill of the safari experience at the Chittagong Hill districts and within the vicinity of Sundarbans. Many tourists in the country would want to see the Royal Bengal Tiger, which can now only be found in a few countries, one of which is Bangladesh.

Experience the thrill of getting up close and personal with animals in their natural habitats, not in man-made animal houses, behind a zoo’s iron bars.

Check out eco-attractions

Rather than going to Bangladesh’s touristy sites, why not visit the parts of Bangladesh that not even the Bengalis themselves frequent?

Check out the tea plantations in Sylhet, the three hill districts in Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the Sundarbans with the largest mangrove forest in the world. Bangladesh has lots of rivers and rivulets, islands, wildlife, and forests for you to visit.

If you’re lucky, you might even meet some locals in the rural areas of the country. That would be a good chance to see firsthand how the Bengali people truly live.

Ride in an auto rickshaw

The auto rickshaw is a famous Asian mode of transport that is also very prominent in Bangladesh. Your experience of touring the country will not be complete if you don’t get to ride in one.

 There are two kinds of auto rickshaw that are used in the country: The first one is the classic yellow type, which is usually modified with musical chimes and flashing lights, which serve as decorations for the vehicle.

The other type of auto rickshaw is the fourstroke auto rickshaw, which is bigger than the first kind. This type of auto rickshaw usually comes in the color of mucky green.

Attend fairs and festivals

The people in this country love fairs and festivals, and understandably so. These are frequently colorful events, feasts for the eyes.

The biggest non-religious festival in the country happens during the first day of the Bengali New Year. This is called the Pahela Boishakh. This festival is celebrated not only in Bangladesh but also in West Bengal and communities such as Tripura and Assam. The observance of this festivity is now very popular in many cities. It starts early in the morning, with people gathering along the bank of a lake to be able to watch the sun as it rises. As the sky brightens, artists render songs to welcome the coming of the new year.

The event is a colorful one because the locals like to wear their traditional Bengali attire when they attend it. For young women, the attire is composed of white saris with red-colored borders. They wear accessories such as flowers and bangles. For men, they wear white pants and tunics.

New Dhaka Jamatkhana seen as a symbol of confidence in Bangladesh

With a history spanning more than six decades in Bangladesh, the Ismaili community sees the new Jamatkhana as a symbol of renewed hope and confidence in the future of their country. It will be “a place of peace and tranquility, filled with a spirit of humility and prayer,” said Mawlana Hazar Imam at the building’s foundation stone laying ceremony in May 2008, “a place where men and women in this pluralist country can help strengthen those common bonds which reflect our common challenges and which will shape our common destiny.” Read more

Be The Solution To End Global Poverty

                   PartnershipsInAction

PartnershipsInAction is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. and its network of volunteers across the U.S. to raise awareness and funds for innovative programs that create hope and opportunity for disadvantaged communities in the developing world.

Through the PartnershipsInAction initiative, the Foundation and its volunteers organize events across the nation to help create a more peaceful and prosperous future for people around the world. 

The Aga Khan Foundation uses innovative solutions to empower communities to overcome poverty, hunger, illiteracy and illness in Asia and Africa. 

100 % of your tax-deductible contribution goes directly to projects supported by AKF USA. 

Partnership Walk is a public event to raise awareness about global poverty and bridge Americans’ spirit of generosity by reaching out to uplift people living in extreme poverty. Inaugurated in 1995, Partnership Walk has expanded to ten major cities across the U.S., including Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Orlando, San Antonio and San Francisco. 

A major feature of the Walk is the Village In Action with interactive exhibits designed by participants from local communities. The Village in Action showcases the impact of the Foundation’s projects and provides visitors with a pathway to be engaged as global citizens. Find a Walk in your area to join!

For more information:

http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/walk

Travelling on Emirates Airlines?

Dubai City Sightseeing Tour and Desert Safari

Next time you travel on Emirates Airlines, plan to take two extra days so you can enjoy a free stopover in Dubai. Dubai is more than just duty-free shopping at the airport. It is a combination of traditional and modern. Checkout what Dubai has to offer.

• See top Dubai attractions on your sightseeing tour: Burj Al Arab hotel, Jumeirah Beach, Al Fahidi Fort and Deira
• Venture into the heart of the Arabian Desert on a 4x4 safari
• Ride a camel at a Dubai camel farm and try your hand at desert sandboarding
• Relax with a barbeque dinner under the starry Arabian sky, with live dancing and music

Dubai City Half-Day Sightseeing Tour
Start your afternoon with a pickup from your central Dubai hotel, and then sit back and relax on a sightseeing tour around town by air-conditioned minivan.

First stop is the striking sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, located off the sands of Jumeirah Beach on its own artificial island. Although it doesn’t formally have the accolade, the hotel is consistently referred to as the world’s only 7-star hotel with incredible facilities inside its 1,053-foot-high (321-meter) building.

After a photo stop outside the hotel, continue along the shoreline to Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s chicest neighborhoods, and then head to the Al Bastakiya district near Dubai Creek. See Al Fahidi Fort (Dubai’s oldest building) and cross Dubai Creek to reach Deira – a fascinating multicultural neighborhood with numerous souks (markets). Soak up the colors and perfumes of the spice souk on a stroll with your guide and then spend time at leisure browsing the legendary Deira Gold Souk before returning to your hotel.

4x4 Dubai Desert Safari

In the afternoon, leave your central Dubai hotel and head to the heart of the Arabian Desert by luxury 4x4 jeep. On the way, stop at a local camel farm to see camels of all different shapes and sizes, roaming around their natural habitat. Learn all about these amazing creatures and enjoy a short camel ride around the farm if you wish.

Next, try your hand at sandboarding – the desert’s answer to snowboarding that swaps snow-clad mountains for sweeping sand dunes. Your guide will give a comprehensive safety briefing and help you strap on your board before racing you and your fellow travelers down the dunes.

Relax on the short journey to a desert campsite for your sunset dinner. While feasting on your barbeque meal, enjoy the camp entertainment: get a henna tattoo on your hands or feet, or sit back and watch a traditional Egyptian folk dance known as El Tanoura, which is performed by spinning men in long, twirling skirts. Before returning to Dubai, smoke a shisha (an Arabic water pipe), if you wish, while enjoying a live belly dance performance around the campfire.

Be sure to also visit the Dubai Ismaili Center for evening prayers and contemplation.

Contact Ismaili Travel at 214-566-7999 to book this two day stopover trip on your way to your destination.

Two abducted AKDN staff released in Afghanistan

Two abducted AKDN staff released in Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan -- The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is relieved to announce the release of two staff members of the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan, who had been abducted by unidentified gunmen in Bamyan, Afghanistan on 20 August. The two individuals are unharmed. The AKDN would like to thank the authorities in Afghanistan and the British government for their support throughout this incident. We do not plan to release further details on the individuals involved and would ask the media to continue to respect their privacy.
May Allah protect our Ismaili brothers and sisters. We pray for their mushkil asaan. Ameen.

Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Kendra Spears marry in intimate ceremony

Geneva, Switzerland, 31 August 2013 — Mawlana Hazar Imam’s eldest son, Prince Rahim and Ms Kendra Salwa Spears were married in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier today in a private ceremony attended by members and friends of both families. At Hazar Imam’s request the Chairman and Members of the Ismaili Leaders’ International Forum (LIF) represented the global Jamat at the event held on the shores of Lake Geneva, on the grounds of the Château de Bellerive — the residence of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s uncle, the late Prince Sadruddin and Princess Aliya.

The proceedings commenced with the recitation of a traditional qasida in the Farsi language, in praise of Hazrat Ali. This was followed by the nikah recited by His Eminence Sayyed Muhammad Musawi, a prominent Shia faith leader.


To mark the festive occasion, the LIF presented Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa with an 18th century piece of Islamic art.

Checkout more pics on theismaili.org