Hindu group seeks ban on Muslim memorial ceremony at Taj Mahal
Hindu nationalist outfit moves to block annual Sufi-linked memorial at Taj Mahal, reviving dispute over Muslim traditions at global monument
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Hindu extremist group has called for the cancellation of an annual Sufi memorial ceremony held at the Taj Mahal, escalating tensions days before the three-day event is due to begin at one of the world’s most recognizable heritage sites.
The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha submitted a memorandum to local authorities in the northern city of Agra demanding that the ceremony, marking the death anniversary of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan — who commissioned the Taj Mahal in the 17th century — be stopped immediately. The three-day event, scheduled to begin on January 15, has been observed for decades at the monument, where Shah Jahan is also buried.
The group objected to Muslim religious practices at the Taj Mahal and reiterated its longstanding claim that the site is a Hindu structure, a theory repeatedly rejected by historians and courts. Its leaders argued that no Islamic rituals should be allowed at the monument and warned of protests if the event proceeds.
The ceremony in question is Urs— a Sufi memorial observance, commonly held across South Asia to mark the death anniversary of a revered figure. In Muslim tradition, such commemorations involve prayers, recitation of devotional poetry, and acts of charity, and are seen as occasions of spiritual reflection rather than celebration.
At the Taj Mahal, the observance has historically been linked to Shah Jahan, who commissioned the monument as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal and is himself buried there.
In its memorandum, the Hindu Mahasabha claimed there was no historical permission for the ceremony during the Mughal or British periods, citing selective court records and right-to-information replies.
The organization pointed to a petition currently pending before an Agra civil court seeking a ban on the ceremony, saying no event should be allowed until a verdict is delivered. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 15, the same day the memorial is set to begin.
Muslim community members and historians have criticized the demand, saying it reflects a broader pattern of attempts to challenge Muslim history and traditions associated with India’s heritage sites. They argue that the memorial observance forms part of the Taj Mahal’s longstanding religious and cultural context as a mausoleum, not merely a tourist attraction.
The dispute is part of a recurring controversy surrounding the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and global symbol of India. For years, Hindu nationalist groups have sought to recast the monument’s origins, despite repeated scholarly and judicial rejections of such claims.
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