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July 12, 2010 | Shah Jahan's Urs celebrated at Taj Mahal in Agra | Agra: Thousands of people thronged the world famous Taj Mahal in Agra to participate in the annual Urs fair on Sunday. The fair commemorated the 355th death anniversary of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and lasted for three days. People
paid homage at the graves of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz, in whose memory the
Taj Mahal was built. "Thousands of people are participating in this festival.
It is the 355th death anniversary day of Shah Jahan. It started on Friday (July
09). Today is the sandalwood powder ritual. We are known as the Khuddam-e-roja
committee as we are the descendants of khadeems (attendants). We bring sandalwood
from our homes and sprinkle on the grave of Shah Jahan," said Tahiruddin Tahir,
president of Khuddam-E-Roja Committee. A record 450-metre 'saptrangi chadar' (multi-coloured
cloth) was offered at the graves as part of a ritual, and sandalwood powder was
sprinkled on the graves. "It is a sacred cloth that represent our good feelings.
It been offered for the past 10 years. This sacred cloth represents all the religions
and this is the 355th Urs fair of Shah Jahan. The people of all the religions,
with respect and pure feelings, offer this sacred cloth," said Lakhbeer Singh
Lakkhi, a pilgrim. There is some ambiguity about the year of Shah Jahan's death
as the Uttar Pradesh government website mentions 1666 as the year Shah Jahan died,
which would make this his 344th death anniversary. However, the Urs organising
committee has celebrated it as the 355th Urs. |
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