Day 2, started off with the continuation of the workshop. After the conclusion of the workday, this wrapped up early around 3pm. We were invited to a meal by our Kassala counterparts for all the workshop participants. The meal was organized in one of the many orchards in the city. Somewhat similar to our outing in Kadougli, but here we had an uninterrupted view of Taka and Toteel Mountains. The backdrop this chilled out finale of our work.

We decided to make the most out of our time and immediately after the meal our hosts were eager to show us around. We hopped into our cars and began our tour.

Sayid Hassan Mosque

At the foot of Jabel Toteel, is the ancient mosque of Sayid Hassan (referred to as Seedi Hassan). The unroofed mosque is centuries old and houses the remains of Sayid Hassan in a “darieeh” or a mausoleum type structure. Residents of this region of sufi pilgrims travel to come pay their respects to Sayid Hassan. In addition to paying their respects many vie to obtain a bit of sand that covers the ground of the mausoleum.

The structure is quiet spectacular. Remains of wooden planks bulge out from the structure. These wooden posts were used as ladders to stand on during the building process. Legend says, that although the mosque is unroofed that it rain never falls down onto the inside of the structure.

Walking towards the mosque, a feeling of bewilderment at how this structure was erected and how it stands side by side of the mountain, as if challenging the Toteel submits’s height. It’s a pure show of audacity and boldness. The structure itself was created from simple copper-toned bricks and the pillars seem to have been of marble or a finely polished caramel-colored granite rock.

To pay our respects we took off our shoes, prior to entering the compound of the mosque and walked over the hot, grainy sand towards the part of the mosque that housed Seedi Hassan’s remains. After walking in and sending a few minutes with that structure we toured the remainder of the mosque. The structure is largely unused but during large festivals (Eids), the mosque is used for regular prayer services and its largely vacant lots are packed with followers and parishioners.

[gigya type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” src=”https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/picasaweb.googleusercontent.com/slideshow.swf” width=”500″ height=”300″ flashvars=”host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107129263791403689175%2Falbumid%2F5301858116214376241%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCK-w4qm5q92-nQE” pluginspage=”http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer”%5D