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The Sardhana Church built by the Begum is the one of the largest church in North India. It is built on Italian architecture by Antonio Reghellini. It is a combination of St Peter's in Rome with a touch of Palladio for Reghellini a native of Vicenza, and has Indian influence as well. The main altar and its surrounding area is built on the same stones like that of the Taj Mahal. The interiors are also beautiful and much of it is built on marble.
It is illuminated from an octagon set in the dome, from which the sun rays peep in. When in Sardhana, you should not miss he most remarkable structure of the Begam herself. It was built by Tadolini by Carrera marble under the initiative of Begum’s adopted heir.
It is a pilgrimage place for people of all religions and especially during the fair many people visit the area to be a part of the carnival. The pilgrims contribute a lot to maintain the basilica. Many programs and services are run by Meerut Dioscese in Sardhana.
History
Being close to Hastinapur, which is also in Meerut district, the capital of Kauravas of Mahabharata, Sardhana is also known for the ancient Mahadev Temple that is believed to be dating from the Mahabharata period. It was here that the Pandavas prayed before leaving for the Lakshagrah, the notorious palace made of lac by Duryodhana, at the confluence of the Hindon and Krishna rivers (Kali River, Kali Nadi). This palace was located at Varnavrat, the present Barnava, where the prince resided with their mother Kunti.
In the 19th century, Sardhana was the capital of the Begum Samru, born as Farzana Zebunisa in 1751, and considered to be the only Catholic ruler in India. She married in her early teens, a mercenary soldier Walter Reinhardt Sombre of Luxembourg, who was operating in India. Samru is but a mispronunciation of his surname Sombre. On his death in 1778 she succeeded to the command of his mercenary troops, and subsequently converted to Catholicism in 1781, under the name Johanna.
During her lifetime she supported financially many charitable and religious institutions. She also obtained from the Holy See, the promotion of Father Giulio Cesare, one of the members of the Agra Mission, to the episcopal dignity, and later Pope Gregory XVI wrote to her, and sent her tokens of his paternal approbation. The church she built in 1822, became a cathedral for a short time, with its own bishop. The Bishop's Palace has become a girls school. Her original palace has now become a seminary for training priests. The New Palace has become the boys school. In December 1961, Pope John XXIII conferred the dignity of Minor Basilica to the church, now known as Basilica of Our Lady of Graces. This dignity is given only on churches that are both beautiful and historically famous.
Amjad Ali Shah and his advisers
It was also ruled by the Nawab of Sardhana, Syed Amjad Ali Shah], a grandson of Nawab Jan Fishan Khan, chief of the Paghman tribe, who came to India in 1842 after Begum Samru died. Amjad Ali Shah's son, Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah, was born there. Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah was the father of the Sufi teacher and writer Idries Shah.
Uttar Pradesh has been traditionally celebrating various festivals of several religions with much enthusiasm Holi is one of their main festivals and continues for 2-3 days. About 48km from Mathura, Barsana, Holi is celebrated in the tradtitional style and is known as 'Latthmar Holi' of Barsana. Ram Lila or the story of Lord Ram is enacted with religious fervor every year on Vijaya Dashami in the whole of Uttar Pradesh especially in Ayodhya. Sravan Jhula mela, Bateshwar Fair at Agra and Kampil Fair are also held in Uttar Pradesh. Haridwar is also one of the important places where Kumbh mela.
