Proceedings of the International Conference on ‘Retro Futurism of Skills in Architecture, Design, Planning and Innovation, 28-29 Sept 2021 (ISBN: 978-93-92823-02-2) 58 Symbiosis School of Architecture, Urban Development and Planning, Pune 6. REINVENTING THE MOSQUE ARCHITECTURE IN THE INDIAN CONTEXT Shubham Jaiswal1, Mohd Arif2, Aman Gupta3 1National Institute of Technology, Raipur / Jesign Architects, Gaya, Bihar India 2Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India 3Parul Institute of Architecture & Research, Vadodara, India 1ar.shubhamjaiswal@gmail.com; 2arifswn@gmail.com; 3amang6884@gmail.com ABSTRACT According to the traditional definition, a mosque is just a place of prayer for Muslims, but that is not the intention. It should have served as a complex, social, and cultural structure for Muslim people. Though the contemporary facts will go against this argument, it should be kept in mind that the definition of a mosque shows that it should be an organization that contributes actively to the growth of the Muslim groups in the city. This paper intends to discuss the functional approach of mosque elements and their role in contemporary time and discuss the significance of Architectural symbolism in mosque design in the Indian context. KEYWORDS Mosque; Islamic Architecture; Ideology; Domes; Arches; Aesthetics. INTRODUCTION Contemporarily a mosque is a place or open area of prayer in Islam Arabic word "masjid" means a place of "prostration to god." This word is used the same in Persian, Urdu, and Turkish languages in the early days. Mosques can be classified into two main types: "masjid Jami" or "collective mosque," which is a sizeable area-controlled mosque with central community worship. And then smaller mosques operated by various private groups within society. Historically the first mosque existed at the place of worship of prophet Mohammed in the courtyard of his house in Medina. This was not the contemporary mosque that we see today with domes, arches, and prominent facades; instead, this was just a simple plot of ground marked out as sacred. The main elements of a mosque contemporarily are a minaret, also called as tower, which is one of the most visible aspects of mosque architecture from where the call to prayer is announced, not much of a functional part now, but it still serves as a powerful visual reminder of the presence of Islam. The second main element is "Qubba" or "Dome" in English. Now, this element in a mosque is not a ritualistic requirement like "mihrab," but a dome serves as a symbolic representation of the "vaults of heaven" it mainly consists of "stealer motifs" or "geometric motifs ." The third main element of the mosque is mosque patronage. These are patronage spaces made as a remembrance for kings and famous noble people. The grandness and technological advancement in architectural technique in the present context have changed mosque elements' basic functionality like the primary functions of minarets were for calling Azaan. However, technology has changed, and now the use of loudspeakers is common in all mosques. LITERATURE REVIEW