Durga Mandir of Mohalla Kalan in Sonipat is still popularly known as Badi Masjid (big/greater Mosque). Even today looking at the exterior of this mandir it could quite easily be confused for a masjid. It stands tall and looks grand in the red stone façade with a courtyard for Friday prayers which probably attracted many local Muslims in pre-partitioned Punjab. Apart from the apparent changes of installing flags and idols, the three main domes and minarets are easily identifiable with that of a small Juma masjid.

Like many other places of East Punjab, the Muslims of Sonipat migrated to Pakistan, leaving behind their homes and places of worship. Muslims were often the second largest group in these areas. For example, Muslims were significantly present in cities like Hissar (28%), Gurgaon (34%), Karnal (32%), and Ambala (32%) Rohtak (17%); all of these are part of present-day Haryana State. The masjid has been converted into a Durga Mandir, a temple for worshiping Durga. It is now known as ‘Sri Sanatan Dharm Sabha Panji Durga Mandir.’ Durga assumes the central position in the mandir and is surrounded by other deities; outside in the courtyard is an encased idol of Baba Sai. The dome interior has recently been filled to mask the obvious Islamic style architecture but the exterior remains as before. Sonipat in August 1947 was a small city in the united Punjab. It became a city in East Punjab and eventually a part of Haryana after the reorganization of East Punjab in 1966. However, there is little in the history books about the intervening years before it became part of Haryana.