What is the annual Shahjahan ‘Urs’ held every year in the Taj Mahal? Hindu body moves court to stop the upcoming event

The 369th death anniversary of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan will be celebrated as the Taj Urs, an annual event held every year. The annual Urs event involves the opening of the tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in memory of whom the mausoleum Taj Mahal was built.

What is the annual Shahjahan ‘Urs’ event?

During the event, entry into the Taj Mahal is free for two days. On the first day, entry is free after 2 p.m., and on the second day, entry is free from morning till evening. The Urs process involves ‘Ghusl’ or full-body purification, mandatory before the performance of various rituals and prayers, starting at 2 p.m. The next day, ceremonies of ‘Sandal’ and ‘Milad Sharif’ will be observed, followed by reciting the four foundational chapters of the Quran in a ritual known as Kuli. This will be followed by Chadar Poshi, or the offering of a sheet. The chadar measures 1,450 meters and will be offered on the tomb of Emperor Shah Jahan, followed by a feast.

The Taj Mahal is a protected monument under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India. During the Urs, several items will be prohibited, including intoxicants, firearms, banners, and posters.

Meanwhile, a Hindu Right-Wing Organization, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, has moved the Agra court against the Shah Jahan Urs and the free entry of people into the Taj Mahal. The hearings have been fixed for March 4 by the court of IV Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) Room No. 4 on the civil court premises, as per the lawyer for the petitioner, Anil Kumar Tewari. Summons will also be sent to the defendants of the 369th ‘Urs’ of the Emperor, scheduled to be held on February 6, 2024.

Many Right-Wing Hindu organizations, including the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, had in the past moved petitions in the court claiming that the Taj Mahal was a Shiv temple named ‘Tejo Mahalaya’ and have objected to the holding of events like the Urs within the Taj Mahal. A suit is pending before the Agra court, and the Allahabad High Court had refused to entertain an earlier petition with claims that the Taj Mahal was a temple by Hindu organizations.

However, this is the first time that a petition has been moved in a court asking to stop the annual Urs event. This time, the petitioner has not claimed that the Taj Mahal was a temple but said that the organizers had no authority to allow free entry into the Taj Mahal. The petition alleges that the organizers of the Urs, Sayyad Ibrahim Zaidi, have neither authority, concern, nor any valid permission of a competent authority to organize the event. The petitioner has also asked for a permanent prohibitory injunction, which will stop the committee from organizing such events in the future.

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