Agra, In a recent legal move, the Hindutva organization, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, has approached an Agra court with a petition to prohibit the annual three-day Urs celebration by Muslims at the Taj Mahal, challenging the tradition observed to commemorate the death anniversary of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the monument’s creator.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Urs, scheduled to begin on February 6, honors Shah Jahan’s legacy and his architectural contribution with the construction of the Taj Mahal in 1653 along the Yamuna River in Agra. The court’s decision to accept the petition has sparked a contentious debate surrounding the historic event.

The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha’s petition specifically contests the celebration’s occurrence within the premises of the Taj Mahal and the associated tradition of granting attendees free entry for the duration of the Urs. Anil Kumar Tiwari, the counsel for the petitioner, emphasized the request for a permanent prohibitory injunction against the Muslim committee responsible for the Urs celebrations.

Sanjay Jat, a spokesperson for the Hindutva group, articulated the organization’s stance, stating their action seeks to halt the Shahjahan Urs Celebration Committee, led by Saiyyad Ibrahim Zaidi, from hosting the event at the iconic monument. This legal challenge raises significant questions about cultural practices, religious freedom, and the usage of historical sites, underlining the ongoing tensions between different community groups over heritage interpretations and rights to public spaces.