Here's Why Water Bottles Are Now Banned At Taj Mahal

On Tuesday, tourists and guides are not allowed to carry water bottles while visiting Taj Mahal’s main mausoleum, said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Although there is no formal order for the same, the ASI said that the staff guarding the premises have enforced this rule.

But why ban water bottles? The decision comes after multiple incidents of ‘jalabhishek’ (religious water ritual) by members of several right-wing groups were reported.

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Notably, there is an arrangement for water in case any visitor requires it.

The restriction was imposed on Monday and continued after a woman belonging to Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) climbed the platform around the main mausoleum of the monument, waving a saffron flag and conducting a ‘jalabhishek.’ The woman was nabbed by the CISF after the incident, reportedly her second attempt.

Earlier, two members of All India Hindu Mahasabha were arrested by the Agra police for allegedly offering ‘jalabhishek.’

Noting the repeated incidents with viral videos of individuals entering Taj Mahal posing as tourists and pouring water from their bottles, claiming it as ‘jalabhishek,’ RK Patel, the superintending archaeologist, Agra Circle of ASI, said, “The videos were raising question marks, so it was decided to ask tourists to leave their water bottles before climbing the white marble platform.”

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He stated that the tourists will be asked to leave their water bottle at a place on the Chameli platform before heading for the main platform. The restriction on carrying water bottles is on a trial basis, and it will be reviewed from time to time, he added.

Several right-wing organisations claim that the UNESCO World Heritage Site is a Shiva Temple known as ‘TejoMahalay.’