NEW DELHI: The Hindutva group Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha has once again called for the cancellation of the three-day Urs of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan at the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, reigniting controversy over a long-observed Muslim religious tradition.
The Mahasabha leaders submitted a memorandum to the Agra administration, demanding the immediate cancellation of the Urs, scheduled to begin on January 15, 2026. The event, marking the death anniversary of Shah Jahan, has been observed for decades and is attended by devotees, local residents and visitors from across India. During these days, the Taj Mahal offers free entry, drawing large crowds for prayers and rituals, including the offering of a ceremonial chadar at Shah Jahan’s tomb.
Rather than recognizing the Taj Mahal as a shared cultural and historical monument, the Hindutva organisation questioned its Islamic heritage and objected to Muslim religious practices at the site.
“This place is Tejomahalaya. No Urs or Islamic ritual should be allowed here,” a Hindu Mahasabha leader said while submitting the memorandum. “Only the flag of Bhole Baba should be hoisted.”
Muslim community leaders and historians condemned the demand, saying it reflects a broader pattern of challenging Muslim history and traditions linked to India’s heritage sites. “The Urs is part of the Taj Mahal’s living history,” said a local Muslim cleric from Tajganj. “Trying to stop it is not about law, it is about erasing Muslim presence and faith.” Another resident said, “For years, the Taj has been targeted with false claims. Today it is the Urs, tomorrow it will be prayers. This creates fear among ordinary Muslims.”
The controversy is not new. For several years, the Hindu Mahasabha and allied groups have claimed that the Taj Mahal is Tejomahalaya, despite repeated rejections of such claims by historians and experts. Similar demands have been raised to restrict or ban Muslim religious activities at other historic sites.
Many observers see the latest move as part of a wider effort to question Muslim traditions and rewrite history.
