Architectural feature depicted by this puzzle’s arching circled letters Crossword Clue

 The architectural feature depicted by the arching circled letters in the New York Times crossword puzzle for August 16, 2023 is MINARETS.

Minarets are tall, slender towers that are found in mosques. They are used to call the faithful to prayer. The arching circled letters in the puzzle form the shape of a minaret.

The Taj Mahal, the monument that the puzzle is depicting, has four minarets. They are located at each corner of the structure. The minarets are made of white marble and are topped with golden finials.

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