Two Men Arrested for Offering ‘Gangajal’ at Taj Mahal; Video Goes Viral
Two Men Arrested for Offering ‘Gangajal’ at Taj Mahal; Video Goes Viral
Agra: In an unusual incident at the Taj Mahal, two men were detained for pouring Gangajal, claiming the monument to be a Shiva temple.
The Tajganj Police in Agra confirmed the arrest of two individuals. They have identified themselves as members of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. They were arrested for allegedly offering holy water at the Taj Mahal during the Sawan month on Saturday. The men claimed that they were pouring Gangajal, viewing the Taj Mahal as ‘TejoMahalay,’ a Shiva temple.
Key Points
• Two men enter Taj Mahal with holy water in plastic bottles
• Poured water at doors of the cellar inside main tomb
• Right-wing groups claim Taj Mahal is a Shiva Temple
इन बेवकुफो को कोई समझाओ कीं सावन में गंगा जल शिवलिंग पर चढ़ाया जाता है ना कीं कब्र पर
— Gaurav Yadav (@ygauravyadav) August 3, 2024
आगरा :ताजमहल के अंदर कब्र पर अखिल भारत हिन्दू महासभा के कार्यकर्ताओं ने गंगाजल चढ़ाया।#tajmahal pic.twitter.com/6s0vDrc0CO
A video clip of the incident shows one of the men pouring water from a plastic bottle onto a closed staircase leading to the basement of the Taj Mahal, where the original graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are located. They argued that the Taj Mahal is not just a historical monument but a Shiva temple and they were pouring the holy water onto a sticker with the symbol ‘Om.’
The men were apprehended by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for the security of the Taj Mahal premises. They had entered the site as tourists, purchasing tickets and carrying water bottles with them.
Efforts to rename the Taj Mahal and perform religious rituals such as aarti or pujas have been ongoing. A local court case is currently seeking permission for such religious activities. The month of Sawan is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and groups with Hindutva ideologies often refer to the Taj Mahal as ‘TejoMahalay.’
The two men are currently in custody at the Tajganj police station, with an investigation underway, according to Agra city Deputy Commissioner of Police Suraj Rai.
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier, a woman activist from the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha attempted to bring Gangajal to the Taj Mahal but was stopped by police at a barricade. In previous years, right-wing activists have recited the ‘Shiv Chalisa’ within the Taj Mahal complex during ‘Mahashivratri.’ Several years ago, members of the Hindu Jagaran Manch, including its district president Gaurav Thakur, were arrested for waving saffron flags inside the monument.
This incident has rekindled the debate over the Taj Mahal’s historical and religious significance, highlighting the ongoing cultural and ideological conflicts surrounding India’s most famous monument.
