Join the Spectacular Taj Mahal “Urs” Festival

It has been 369 years since Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan breathed his last. But Indian Muslims still commemorate the monarch’s death. And what better place to do so than at his most enduring monument – the Taj Mahal. This sacred heritage site and one of the world’s 7 wonders welcomed hoards of Islamic visitors in late January, 2024. The erection which is the destination of 7 to 8 million tourists annually saw its attendee volume swell over this occasion.

The 3-day commemorative festival, also known as Urs, was marked by the gathering of thousands of people arriving to participate in the event. These folks didn’t just get to review the structure’s stunning white marble facade, perfectly-shaped dome and the bold minarets surrounding it. They were in for a novel added attraction: the opening of the room housing the graves of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal (in whose memory he had built the landmark mausoleum). 

Among the other festivities was the carrying of a long strip of silken cloth in the compounds of the site. Anyway guesses as to its length? The sheet is 1,560 metres long and about 4 metres in width, ensuring that it can accommodate the hands of a myriad people. This lucky gathering concluded the ritual by placing the sheet over the grave stones of the Mughal ruler and his spouse Mumtaz. Following prayers from the Quran, the enclosure is barred from public access till the following year.

Interestingly, Mumtaz Mahal which translates to “The Exalted One of the Palace” was one of Shah Jahan’s four wives and perhaps his favourite... going by the spectacle he built in her honour. There have been unsubstantiated rumours that he cut off the hands and poked in the eyes of the architects and builders - to ensure no replica of the monument ever be made. Whatever the case, this tomb is one a kind which can neither be replaced nor imitated. Indeed, Donald Trump’s Taj Hotel in NYC comes a distant second.