A right-wing organisation on Friday filed a civil suit seeking a ban on the annual observance of the 'Urs' (death anniversary) of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan at the Taj Mahal. The 'Urs' event is planned from February 6 to February 8 next week.
According to a Bar & Bench report, the Hindu outfit Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) has moved the Agra district court seeking prohibitory injunction on observance of the 'Urs' (death anniversary) of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan at the Taj Mahal.
The suit that was listed before a civil judge at Agra District Court on Friday, will be next heard on March 31. The petitioner has also sought a ban on free entry of people to Taj Mahal on the occasion, the report said.
According to the report, the right-wing outfit alleged that the Celebration Committee Tajgang was planning to celebrate the 'urs' at the historical monument without the taking the permission from the government and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The suit further alleges that the president of the said committee is in not related to Taj Mahal in any way. They further stated that he is neither an employee at Taj Mahal nor has any concern with the monument.
The event is organised every year to mark the death of the late Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal in 1653. On this day various rituals such as 'chadar posh,' 'sandal,' 'milad sharif' 'ghusul,' and 'kul' are carried out at the Taj Mahal. Last year, a chadar measuring 1,450 metres was be offered to emperor Shah Jahan's tomb on the occasion of Urs. Later, a langar was served in the forecourt.
Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir. Akbar's favourite, Shah Jahan succeeded to the throne upon his father Jahangir's death in 1627.