Mosque repair a burning issue

Lahore: Pakistan has set out to tackle a challenging problem facing worshippers at one of the world's greatest mosques how to cross 500 feet of burning courtyard stone without searing their bare feet.

It is an issue that has its roots in the early years of the Raj, and one that has long caused resentment towards the soldier sahibs who annexed Punjab in the mid-19th century. The immense courtyard of Lahore's Badshahi Mosque, built by the Mogul emperor Aurangzeb and making it one of the world's largest places of worship, has been lined with red sandstone ever since it was repaired after British Armed Forces damaged the original brick-lined floor.

"The sandstone wears away so quickly and reaches such temperatures during the summer that people, whether they are ordinary citizens or visiting dignitaries, have to dash for the covered prayer area socks or no socks," said Oriya Jan Maqbool, director general of archaeology in Punjab.

"In the summer we try and cool down the stones by pouring water over them, but that creates a huge amount of steam and then cracks the stone."

On capturing Lahore from the Sikhs, the British kept their horses in the mosque courtyard and also used it as a munitions dump. "In the beginning the British were very insensitive with the mosque and they damaged it when they set up stables and stores," said Jan Maqbool.

Further damage was caused when post holes were bored to put up tents for colonial weddings.