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MISS UNIVERSE AND THE TAJ AT AGRA An interesting news item reproduced below :-  3 hours ago Agra (India) (AFP) - Indian police said Thursday they had filed a case against Miss Universe for conducting an unauthorised footwear fashion shoot at the Taj Mahal which was slammed as an "insult" by the monument's caretaker. Twenty-one-year-old American Olivia Culpo, wearing a long peach-coloured dress, visited the world-famous "monument to love" in Agra on Sunday during a 10-day tour of India. "We have registered a case against Ms Culpo and her team members after receiving a complaint," Sushant Gaur told AFP from the tourism police station in Agra, 180 kilometres (112 miles) south of New Delhi. "We have booked her under various sections... of India's Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act," he added. Gaur said Culpo posed for photographers with branded shoes while sitting on the Diana Seat, a marble ledge in front of the white mausoleum named after the late British princess who visited in 1992. "There are strict guidelines against any sort of branding and promotion at Taj Mahal and the photo shoot conducted was without any prior permission," said N.K. Pathak from the Agra unit of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI ). A case has also been registered against Indian-born fashion designer Sanjana Jon who accompanied Miss Universe to the site. Registering a case is a preliminary step and the issue may not necessarily go to court. Visitors must take off their shoes while visiting the monument, an Islamic mausoleum built for the late wife of Mughal ruler Shah Jahan and completed in 1648. Footwear is allowed in the garden area where the Diana Seat is located. Culpo's office was not immediately available for comment. The complaint was filed by the monument's caretaker on behalf of the ASI, an official working for the state-run body told AFP on condition of anonymity. He said she would face a fine if found guilty. The Mumbai-based Mid-Day tabloid quoted Taj caretaker Munazzar Ali as saying Culpo's modelling at the Taj amounted to "disrespect and insult". "The sandals from a bag she carried were taken and placed on the Diana Seat for shooting pictures, which is not permitted by the ASI. It also amounts to disrespect and insult," he told the paper. The tabloid also suggested that security personnel responsible for frisking at the entrance gates of the monument "were too impressed" with Culpo and allowed her to carry her bag inside. Culpo, seemingly unaware of any brewing controversy, uploaded a photo of the Taj to an Instagram account on Monday, a day after her Agra visit. "We made it to the Taj Mahal. One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen!!!! So amazing," she wrote. I have had the pleasure of thrashing two policemen, a member of caretaker group and an official of the Archaeological Survey of India at various times urinating in the monument's premises in my younger days. I wonder whether the ASI Establishment or Police or the Caretakers considered that to be a part of honouring the dead interred in the Monument ????!!!! I find this FIR with Police silly and obscene. Have a nice time of the day, Everyone, and a beautiful day tomorrow as you head towards the weekend. "To fight the darkness do not draw your sword, light a candle" - Zarathustra |
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ET - I agree with you; this is some idiot trying to BECOME FAMOUS by suing Miss Universe. I am aware of the numerous trespasses of the rules in various monuments and religious places and what was done here is no violation of any rule. I have been posted in Agra for nine years in three different tenures and I am familiar with most of the rules and goings on in that place. The 'Diana' Bench is well-known; many tourists have themselves photographed as if they are holding the Taj by its pinnacle, a bit of a photo trick and when they do that they wear all kinds of footwear. As I have written in my blog, I have been an unfortunate witness to some members of the family of the caretaker/his associates urinating in the premises and had to do something corrective about it. Have a nice day as you head towards the weekend.   "To fight the darkness do not draw your sword, light a candle" - Zarathustra
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I agree with you but my observation in response to ET applies. You are right that most of the activities of Miss Universe are sponsor guided. As I said I am aware of no rule that bars wearing of footwear at the so called 'Diana' Bench. Have a beautiful day and the coming weekend. "To fight the darkness do not draw your sword, light a candle" - Zarathustra
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GrandBluff - I do not quite believe what is in the Instagram. It is perhaps an another piece of yellow journalism which is observed often to be practiced by the print and the visual media. I should think that the sponsors of the shoot were aware of the rules as was Miss Universe; this is some cheapskate trying to get fame by suing Miss Universe. My response to ET will explain the reality of Taj and Agra. I am posting excerpt of it here too , My friend : "...... this is some idiot trying to BECOME FAMOUS by suing Miss Universe. I am aware of the numerous trespasses of the rules in various monuments and religious places and what was done here is no violation of any rule. I have been posted in Agra for nine years in three different tenures and I am familiar with most of the rules and goings on in that place. The 'Diana' Bench is well-known; many tourists have themselves photographed as if they are holding the Taj by its pinnacle, a bit of a photo trick and when they do that they wear all kinds of footwear. As I have written in my blog, I have been an unfortunate witness to some members of the family of the caretaker/his associates urinating in the premises and had to do something corrective about it. ...." Have a wonderful day, GrandBluff, and a lovely weekend. "To fight the darkness do not draw your sword, light a candle" - Zarathustra
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Welcome to my Blog, Boogie. I am sure Miss Culpo did no wrong. I also firmly believe that it is some misguided missile of man who is trying to have his brush with fame by suing Miss Universe - my response to ET says it all. Do, please read it. Have a beautiful day and the weekend. "To fight the darkness do not draw your sword, light a candle" - Zarathustra
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Poet_dancer, My dear Friend - You are spot on. I am convinced Miss Culpo - - meant no disrespect to the monument or the dead interred there, - was not aware that some, in error, regard the Taj Mahal as a religious place; it is to be respected certainly as we respect any and all dead, - did not know if there was a rule that debarred wearing of footwear on the so named 'Diana Bench' platform, - saw no warning/notice that says that footwear on the platform, where that bench is located, is prohibited. This certainly is the case of a warped mind looking for a brush with fame by suing Miss Universe. Have a wonderful day tomorrow following a good sleep with happy dreams this Friday night in Singapore. & KsOCs"To fight the darkness do not draw your sword, light a candle" - Zarathustra
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