In the niches and alcoves of Feroz Shah Kotla, believers pray, light candles and write letters to djinns.
Every Thursday, people from across Delhi and beyond flock to Feroz Shah Kotla with letters, candles, chaadars (shawls), rice and such, to profess their most private secrets to the djinns and ask for their protection.
The ‘ministry’ of djinns functions not unlike contemporary bureaucracies. Most believers write their pleas and prayers in a petition letter, complete with address and passport-sized photographs. Every alcove of the ruins finds multiple photocopies of the letters as if petitioning different departments of a government office.
Often, street dogs devour the scraps left behind by the devotees, a practice the devotees don't mind either since it is believed that the djinns satisfy their hunger through these animals.
One of the many beliefs (or superstitions, call it what you may) about djinns is that they're attracted towards long hair and perfume. So, devotees are advised to keep their hair covered while here, unless they want a djinn falling for them (which, apparently, is NOT a good thing).
Of dungeons, djinns and devotion
According to Islam, humans were created from clay, while angels were created from light. The Djinns, on the other hand, were created from smokeless fire.
The Arun Jaitley stadium, formerly called the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium, lies in the vicinity of the citadel.