Pakistan's Minorities Worship Places.

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Beautiful panaromic view of Punja Sahib

Tower of Silence/Dakhma - Karachi

Structure used by Zoroastrians for exposure of the dead.

St Andrew's Anglican Church, Lahore

Holy Trinity Church- Karachi

 

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Stunningly beautiful Bhai Joga Singh Gurdwara, in Peshawar
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Katas Raj temple near Chakwal

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In pictures: Christmas celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm across Pakistan​

Special services held in churches across the country and prayers offered for Pakistan's peace, progress and prosperity.

Dawn.com | APP
December 25, 2022

Christian communities across Pakistan, like other parts of the world, celebrated the grand festival of Christmas on Sunday with traditional zeal and enthusiasm.
The festival saw a variety of activities, including official gatherings, cake-cutting ceremonies and prayers at churches.

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Special cake-cutting ceremonies were held at various ministries and departments on Friday to share the happiness of the festival with Christian staff members and acknowledge their contributions.

Special services were held in churches across the country and prayers were offered for Pakistan’s peace, progress and prosperity as well as for the safety of all humanity from natural disasters and diseases.

Members of the Frontier Constabulary personnel stand guard during a Christmas prayer ceremony at the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the St John’s Cathedral Church in Peshawar on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the St John’s Cathedral Church in Peshawar on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters leads a Christmas Day service at the St John’s Cathedral in Peshawar on December 25, 2022. — Reuters

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Christ Church in Rawalpindi on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Christ Church in Rawalpindi on December 25, 2022. — AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at the Christ Church in Rawalpindi on December 25, 2022. — AFP

A woman, along with others, attends a Christmas Day service at the St. John’s Cathedral in Peshawar, on December 25, 2022. — Reuters

People attend a Christmas Day service at the St. John’s Cathedral in Peshawar, on December 25, 2022. — Reuters

 

[ghazi52]

Three-day annual festival starts at Kalat's Kali Mandir​

The main purpose of the festival is to bind and unite the people with love and peace, says local Hindu leader

APP
January 24, 2023

Children gathered around the statue of a Hindu deity at the Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat, Balochistan.

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KALAT: The three-day annual festival of the Hindu community at the Kali Mata Mandir, the historical temple of Hindus located in Kalat, began with traditional and religious fervor on Tuesday.

Hindu community from across the country reached Kalat in large numbers to participate in the annual festival.

The Hindu community also organized special prayers for the prosperity of the country.
Special food stalls have also been set up and free food is being distributed among the participants of the religious gathering.

Mana Mall, a local leader of the Hindu community, said that the main purpose of the festival was to bind and unite the people with love, peace, affection, and brotherhood.

Expressing his satisfaction over relations of Muslims with Hindus in Pakistan, he said that other countries of the world should learn lessons from Pakistan where there is no discrimination on the basis of religion and where minorities are enjoying all facilities as being availed by their Muslim brothers.

He further said that “Pakistan is our country and we have all kinds of religious freedom. We are very happy to participate in the annual historic festival."

Law enforcement agencies have made effective security arrangements at all entrance and exit points for the festival.

The second-largest Kali Mata statue in Asia is placed at the temple and because of that, the Hindu community from India also frequently visits the mandir in large numbers.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan issues visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims for Katas Raj visit​

High Commission grants 96 visas to pilgrims to visit temples in Punjab's Chakwal district from Dec 19 to 25

News Desk
December 18, 2023

Shree Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas or complex of Katas Temples are in Chakwal district of Punjab.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 62 visas to a group of Indian Hindu pilgrims, allowing them to visit the historic Shree Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas, situated in the Chakwal district of Punjab. The pilgrimage is scheduled to take place from 19th to 25th December.

In a press release issued on Monday, Charge d’ Affaires Aizaz Khan expressed his heartfelt wishes to the pilgrims, extending hopes for a safe journey and a memorable stay in Pakistan.

The issuance of these pilgrimage visas falls under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines established in 1974. This bilateral agreement has facilitated the annual pilgrimage of thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from India, allowing them to participate in various religious festivals and occasions hosted in Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Pakistan granted 104 visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims to participate in the 315th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib at the Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Sindh.

The 300-year old temple is a sacred place for Hindu devotees from across the globe. The Shadani Darbar was founded in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708.

The visit to Shree Katas Raj Temples holds great significance for the Hindu community, as these temples are revered for their historical and cultural importance. The pilgrimage reflects the commitment of both nations to honour and preserve cultural heritage and religious tradition.

Pakistan's initiative to grant visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims aligns with the objective of facilitating the visits to religious shrines and promoting the interfaith harmony.

 

[ghazi52]

Hinglaj Maata -Shakti Peeth
Location- Balochistan, Pakistan
Importance- Shaktipeeth, Where Brain of Maa Shakti

 

[ghazi52]

Indian Sikh pilgrims were warmly received upon their arrival in Pakistan as they embarked on their pilgrimage. The focal point of the Baisakhi celebrations, commencing on April 14, will be at the Gurdwara Panja Saheb Hasanabdal.

Pakistan has granted visas to 2,843 Indian Sikh pilgrims, allowing them to participate in the festivities of Baisakhi Mela and Khalsa Janam Din. Following customs clearance and immigration procedures at the Wagah border, the pilgrims will be transported to Hasanabdal via a special train, as shared by Rana Shahid, the additional secretary of the evacuee trust property board, in an interview with The Express Tribune.

The main event of Baisakhi Mela, scheduled for April 14 at the Gurudwara Panja Saheb, will be the highlight of the pilgrimage. Subsequently, on April 15, the pilgrims will journey to Nankana Sahib from Hasanabdal, paying homage at Sacha Sauda (Farooqabad) during their stay. This will be followed by a visit to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (Narowal) on April 18.

Continuing the pilgrimage, on April 20, the pilgrims will visit Gurudwara Rori Sahib (Eminabad), spending a day in contemplation. The spiritual journey will conclude as the Sikh pilgrims bid farewell to Pakistan on April 22, marking the end of their 10-day pilgrimage.

Sardar Ramesh Singh, the head of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and provincial minister for minority affairs in Punjab, emphasized the distinct nature of Baisakhi and Khalsa Janam Day. He highlighted the historical significance of Baisakhi, recalling the founding of the Sikh Panth by Guru Gobind Ji on this day in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Ji mandated Khalsa Sikhs to embrace the five articles of faith, including ‘kesh’ (unshorn hair and beard), ‘kangha’ (a wooden comb), ‘kara’ (a bracelet), ‘kachera’ (an undergarment), and ‘kirpan’ (a small curved sword or knife).
4:56 AM · Apr 14, 2024

 

[ghazi52]

Film highlights secure journey of Hindus to Balochistan temple​

Shazia Hasan
October 5, 2024

A screen grab from the documentary. —White Star

KARACHI: The three-day festival at Hinglaj Mata in Balochistan, where Hindu devotees from not just Pakistan but all over the world visit to fulfil their religious obligations, is the subject of the well-researched 40-minute documentary Goddess of Hinglaj-51 Shakti Peeth, produced by Rava Documentary Films at Rava Studios, and which was screened at the Arena Cinema here on Friday.

The Hinglaj Sabeeta Temple in Pakistan is stated to be “3.2 million years old” and honours the Hindu Goddess Sati, who has a tragic story. In fact, it is said that this site of Hindu pilgrimage embodies interfaith harmony, as the place has been protected by the Baloch Muslim community for centuries.

Hindu devotees, including Hindu scholars, bhajan singers, politicians, etc, who have also visited here say that they are made to feel “1,000 per cent safe and secure” here by the Muslims who take care of maintaining the historic temple. They thanked the government with a heartfelt “Pakistan Zindabad!”

The film opens to scenes of devotees dancing before their gods and performing puja. You get to know some of the legends about the Hindu deities including the story of Sati who loved Shiva, her husband, who had fallen out of favour with her powerful father.

He was insulted which Sati could not tolerate and jumped into raging flames. Her lifeless body was pulled out of the fire by her angry and grieving husband who carried her around everywhere. The universe was disturbed. The other gods could not allow it. They broke her remains into 51 pieces.

Goddess of Hinglaj screened

Where each piece, known to carry a particular power, fell is a site of pilgrimage. Her eyes and upper part of face are said to have landed at Hinglaj. On way to Hinglaj, devotees also visit the mud volcano. It is said that Mata Sati stopped their before taking her life.

About the Hinglaj Sabeeta Temple, Maharaj Gopal Das of the Hinglaj Temple points out in the film that for Hindus the pilgrimage is a sacred journey. It draws hundreds of thousands of devotees every year, who reach there by bus, car and even foot.

Maharaj Gopal Das says that Mata Sati carries great significance for married Hindu women. “Even the sindoor that a married Hindu woman decorates her hair parting with is attributed to Mata Sati.”

He also said that Balochistan was once known as ‘Hingol Desh’.

Rava Documentary Films’ producer Tariq Rafique said that they ventured into documentaries to highlight issues that were not too well-known otherwise.

“The reason for coming up with this particular documentary on this subject was to tell the world how the Hindu community freely carry their religious obligations in Pakistan,” he said.

He added that their other documentaries, include Dancing Girl about Mohenjo-Daro, Iqbal Masih about the young social activist who blew the whistle on bonded labour, etc. are all available on their YouTube channel.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2024

 

[ghazi52]

Hindu temple being reconstructed after 64 years in Narowal​

Abid Mahmood
October 21, 2024

— Dawn photos

NAROWAL: The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has started construction on the Hindu temple of Baoli Sahib in Zafarwal, marking the first phase of reconstruction after 64 years. A budget of Rs10 million has been allocated for the construction of the temple’s boundary wall.

Currently, there are no functional Hindu temples in Narowal district, forcing Hindu families to perform their religious rituals at home or travel to temples in Sialkot and Lahore.

Ratan Lal Arya, former president of the Pak Dharamsthan Committee Pakistan, told Dawn that the ETPB d took control of the Baoli Sahib temple in 1960, rendering it non-functional.

After the establishment of Pakistan, Narowal district once had 45 Hindu temples, but many have fallen into disrepair. For the past 20 years, the Pak Dharamsthan Committee has advocated for the restoration of Baoli Sahib temple. Arya noted that the Hindu community, which numbers over 1,453 in Narowal, lacked a dedicated place for worship.

 

[ghazi52]

Biggest HINDU TEMPLE in Pakistan​

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[ghazi52]

Kartarpur Corridor:
Five Years of Peace and HarmonyFive years ago, Pakistan took a historic step by opening the Kartarpur Corridor, providing Sikh pilgrims from India with a direct, visa-free route to visit the sacred Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.

This 3-kilometre-long corridor offers pilgrims the opportunity to visit the site where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent his final years.

The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor stands as a powerful symbol of Pakistan’s commitment to interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence.

As the Kartarpur Corridor celebrates five years of fostering peace and religious harmony, it remains a testament to Pakistan’s unwavering dedication to building bridges of understanding across borders, fostering a culture of respect and promoting unity.

 

[Lulldapull]

Ghazi bhai thank you for posting all this. Helps counter all the daily negativity against our country.

 

[ghazi52]

Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary marked: Sikh pilgrims perform religious rites​

Recorder Report
LAHORE: The main ceremony of Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary was held at Gurdwara Janmashtham Nankana Sahib, in which Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India, performed religious rituals.

Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik and Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs/Pradhan Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora attended the ceremony while Minority Members of Punjab Assembly, Chairman ETPB, Additional Secretary Shrines, members of PSGPC Sardar Satwant Singh, Sardar Tara Singh, Sardar Dr Mampal Singh, Satwant Kaur, UK, USA, Australian Sangat and a large number of Sikh community were present at the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora congratulated the Sikh community on the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Ji and said that today is a very happy day for the Sikh community around the world.

Ramesh Singh Arora said that the PML-N is honored that for the first time a Sikh member made provincial minister while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz herself participated in the Baisakhi festival and lit a lamp of peace in the Diwali ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik said that such events play a key role in promoting interfaith harmony. He praised the officials of the ETPB and said that the new building and 100 rooms in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib are going to be completed very soon. Peace and love have always been propagated from Pakistan, however, it is necessary to discourage the winds came from India, he added.

Chaudhry Salik further said that all religious minorities in Pakistan enjoy complete freedom while the work of renovating Gurdwaras in Kartarpur, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Okara etc. is going on, he prayed that the relationship of Sikh-Muslim friendship continues to flourish. At the end of the ceremony, the distinguished guests were presented with saroopas while the palanquin( Palki) procession passed through different routes and ended returned to Nankana Sahib Gurdwara.

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif in her message on the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji congratulated the Sikh community across the globe.

She said, “Baba Guru Nanak is always a torchbearer of humanity, love and brotherhood. Peaceful societies are built on the basis of tolerance and brotherhood. Baba Guru Nanak exhorted the humanity to share each other’s sorrows and griefs.”

She added, “Minority card will be made functional for the destitute minority brothers and sisters of Punjab in December. Rs.10,000 will be given every quarter to the impecunious strata of minority brothers and sisters from the ‘minority card.’ Minority Virtual Police Station will be established to further ensure protection of minorities.”

She said, “Every citizen should be provided all the basic facilities and rights irrespective of his/her religion. We have to collectively make our dear holy land an example of peace, harmony and tolerance.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

 

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Over 2,500 Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Pakistan for Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrations​

Pakistan has issued a total of 3,000 visas to Indian Sikhs for the event. During their stay, pilgrims will be provided with accommodation, food, transportation, and medical facilities, officials said.

Sikh pilgrims raise religious slogans before departing for Pakistan to participate in celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, in Amritsar,

Nov. 14, 2024.

LAHORE: Over 2,550 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived here on Thursday to participate in festivities marking the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Secretary Fareed Iqbal, Additional Secretary Shrines Saifullah Khokhar, and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Ramesh Singh Arora—also a minority minister in Maryam Nawaz's cabinet in Punjab—welcomed the pilgrims at the Wagah border.

Khokhar said masks will be provided to all pilgrims to protect them from heavy smog. He said extraordinary security arrangements have been made to ensure the pilgrims' safety.

"As many as 2,559 Indian Sikhs arrived in Lahore today via special trains. They were transported to Nankana Sahib on special buses," ETPB spokesperson Ghulam Mohayuddin told PTI.

The main event celebrating Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary will be held on Friday at Gurdwara Janamasthan in Nankana Sahib, approximately 80 km from Lahore.

Sikhs from other countries will also attend, alongside local attendees, federal and provincial ministers, and officials from ETPB and PSGPC, Mohayuddin said.

During their stay, pilgrims will be provided with accommodation, food, transportation, and medical facilities, he said.

Pakistan has issued a total of 3,000 visas to Indian Sikhs for the event.