The concept of Mud Therapy for Treating the changing colour of Taj Mahal
https://www.thenewsgeeks.com/changing-colour-of-taj-mahal-mud-therapy/April 17, 2017
...Yes, you read that right. A mud therapy is being used to reverse the ill effects of pollution on Taj Mahal.
The government recently announced the maintenance of this beautiful, world famous monument. This announcement came after various Rajya Sabha members voiced their concern over Taj Mahal’s deteriorating condition.
Culture Minister, Mahesh Sharma said that all the efforts are being made to reduce the impact of insects and pollution on the structure.
The mud therapy involves the application of multani mitti (fuller’s earth), which is a rich source of magnesium chloride (MgCl). It is hugely popular for its healing properties against acne and blemishes. The therapy is based on adsorption principle which is similar to the one used on face to get rid of oil and dirt....
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/world/asia/taj-mahal-india-cleaning.html...Since 2015, workers have scaled the monument’s minarets and walls to correct discoloration and remove layers of grime from the 17th-century structure, which was built by the Muslim emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Behind the monument, the Yamuna River has also filled with sewage and other waste, worsening the problem by attracting millions of mosquito-like insects. They settle near the backside of the Taj Mahal and excrete a green substance on its walls during mating flights.
Cleaning the monument is time-consuming and challenging. To remove discoloration, workers suspended on scaffolding are caking Fuller’s earth — a mud paste that absorbs dirt, grease and animal excrement, and that is commonly used to treat skin impurities — on the entire monument. The mud is then washed off, leaving a pristine surface....
