Woman detained for waving saffron flag at Taj Mahal in northern India, claims monument is Shiva temple
by Aditi VermaA woman activist of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Meera Rathore, was detained by security forces at the Taj Mahal in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh after she waved a saffron flag and attempted to perform a ‘Jal Abhishek,’ claiming the monument is a Shiva temple.
The incident took place at the Taj Mahal in Agra on July 29.
Visuals showed a woman inside the Taj Mahal waving an orange-colored flag, holding it high for everyone to see. She stood on the white marble platform around the main mausoleum, the vibrant saffron flag contrasting starkly against the pristine backdrop of the iconic structure. As she waved the flag, it fluttered in the air, catching the attention of nearby visitors, who paused to watch her actions.
On the third Monday of the Hindu month of Sawan, a woman identified as Meera Rathore, an activist of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, was detained by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Taj Mahal for waving a saffron flag. Rathore claimed the Taj Mahal is a Shiva temple originally named Tejo Mahalaya. The incident occurred after she entered the monument as a tourist, purchasing a ticket and concealing her true intent.
Rathore, carrying a water bottle, ascended the white marble platform surrounding the main mausoleum and waved the flag toward one of her associates, who recorded the act on video. The video quickly went viral on social media, prompting immediate action from security forces. Rathore was taken for questioning but was not immediately handed over to the Tajganj police.
This is not Rathore’s first attempt to press her belief about the monument’s origins. The previous Monday (July 29), she tried to approach the Taj Mahal with a ‘kanwar,’ a ritualistic pot used to carry holy Ganga water from Soron in Kasganj district, which she intended to offer at the monument. State police prevented her from moving forward at that time.
Rathore’s actions have sparked controversy and debates around the historical and religious significance of the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of India’s most visited tourist attractions.
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