The celebration for the 370th death anniversary of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, started on Sunday. This three-day event, called ‘urs,’ began with the presentation of a beautiful ‘chadar’ (a ceremonial cover) on the graves of Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Prince Vajpayee, a senior worker in the archaeology department for the Taj Mahal, shared that the Taj Urs Committee and employees opened the basement tomb of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at 2 PM. They placed the ‘chadar’ on the graves while people read prayers and offered special prayers called Fatiha. Outside the main dome, singers known as Qawwals performed Sufi songs.
Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in 1631 as a tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the main attraction of a complex that includes a mosque and a guest house. Prince Vajpayee mentioned that events to remember Shah Jahan would continue until Tuesday.
Excitingly, tourists can visit the Taj Mahal without paying for tickets after 2 PM on Monday. On Tuesday, visitors can enter for free all day long. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Taj Security) Syed Areeb Ahmed stated that strong security measures have been taken because many tourists are expected.
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