Muslims
offer prayers at Taj Mahal
AGRA - The Taj Mahal will
remain open during the month of Ramadan, exclusively for Muslims to offer
prayers.
“As Taj Mahal is a magnificent
monument, people believe that by offering prayers in this monument all
their wishes will come true. This drives the people to come and pray here.
They come in huge numbers to offer namaaz here,” said Syed Munavvar Ali,
a resident.
Special arrangements have
been made during the night.
“At night, special arrangements
have been made in response to the Supreme Court orders. At the time of
offering namaaz, the Taj Mahal will be open only for Muslims and no one
else,” he added.
The devotees have to register
their name and address at the entrance gate after which they will be issued
an entry pass to the mosque.
The Muslims gathered in
huge numbers feel very lucky to have got a chance to offer prayers at the
monument.
“This is for the first
time that we are visiting Taj Mahal. We are very lucky to come here and
offer prayers. This is a like a god’s gift to us,” said Rauff, a Muslim
tourist.
He added that the whole
experience of coming to a different place and offering namaaz in this serene
atmosphere of the monument was very satisfactory.amadan begins in the ninth
month of the Muslim lunar calendar.
The starting date is determined
by the sighting of the crescent moon in each country concerned, or by astrological
calculation, often dividing Islamic countries and sects over the exact
dates.
During Ramadan, Muslims
around the world refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, thinking impure
thoughts or having sex during daylight hours, a period aimed at spiritual
cleansing.
Activity during Ramadan
peaks between “iftar”, the breaking of the fast at sunset, a “suhur” the
last meal of the day before sunrise. (ANI)
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