Taj Mahal not to be lit during Independence Day.

Taj Mahal the only Indian monument to not be illuminated during the 75th Independence Day.

As India approaches its Diamond Jubilee, the nation celebrates by illuminating more than 3,500 heritage sites in the tri-colour. However, the Taj Mahal would be the only one which would not be illuminated.

Taj Mahal was first lit up in 1945 when the Allied Forces won the Second World War. However, by 1997 a ruling was passed that banned the illumination of the Taj Mahal. This occurred because insects attract the Taj when it lights up.

Taj Mahal is known for how bright it gets when illuminated. Due to that, the Mahal also ends up attracting a lot of insects. The last time the site was lit up, many insects were found dead around the Mahal's grounds, and dead insect bodies were stuck around the walls.

All of this has caused the government to call off the lighting of the Taj during this festive season.