Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha Files Petition In Agra Court Against Observing 'Urs' In Taj Mahal

'Urs' marks the death of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal in 1653 on the banks of Yamuna in Agra. 

The celebration of three-day 'Urs' will take place this year from February 6 to February 8.

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A petition was filed in an Agra court seeking prohibitory injunction against the observation of the 'Urs' at Taj Mahal by a right-wing organisation, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. The organisation has also challenged free entry inside the Taj Mahal for ‘Urs’. The court has accepted the petition and will hear the matter on March 4, according to PTI.

The celebration of three-day 'Urs' will take place this year from February 6 to February 8. The period marks the death of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal in 1653 on the banks of Yamuna in Agra. 

Petitioner's counsel Anil Kumar Tiwari said, "On Friday, the petitioner ABHM through its divisional head Meena Diwakar and district president Saurabh Sharma filed a petition in the Court of IV Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) Room No 4 at Civil Court premises in Agra”.

He further added that the petitioner has sought for permanent prohibitory injunction against the committee celebrating the 'Urs’. The right-wing organisation also objects to free entry at the Taj Mahal for ‘Urs’. 

ABHM spokesperson Sanjay Jat contended that the body had filed the petition based on a Right to Information act (RTI). The RTI revealed that neither the Mughals, nor the British allowed ‘Urs’ to take place inside the Taj, as per PTI report. The RTI filed by Raj Kishore Raje, an historian of Agra city asking the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) who permitted 'Urs' celebration and 'Namaz' in Taj Mahal premises. 

Jat said, ASI replied to the RTI stating that neither Mughals, nor the British government or the Government of India have allowed 'Urs' celebration in the Taj Mahal. Based on this, the ABHM has filed the petition seeking the prohibitory injunction, stopping the organisers of Shahjahan 'Urs' Celebration Committee, headed by Saiyyad Ibrahim Zaidi, from celebrating the 'Urs' at Taj Mahal.

The three-day Urs sees the rituals of 'chadar poshi', 'sandal', 'gusul', 'kul' and others. On the last day of the 'Urs', a 'chadar' 1,880-metre-long or more is offered.

According to the Hindustan Times, this matter has been raised before various courts on this issue. However, in the recent past, the high court of Allahabad refused to accept petitions with such claims by right wing organisations and individuals.