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    Indians celebrate Mahashivratri in ancient Pakistani temple

    By Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited – Tue 21 Feb, 2012

    Islamabad, Feb 20 (IANS) After a six-year gap, a group of pilgrims from India celebrated Monday Mahashivratri in a Hindu temple said to have been built more than 900 years ago.

    Fifty Hindus from India marked the festival at Katasraj in Punjab province, reported the Daily Times.

    The place is considered sacred due to a pond, which according to Hindu mythology was formed from Lord Shiva's tears.

    It is also said that the Pandava brothers stayed in the temple region for four out of the 14 years they spent in exile.

    The Indian delegation, which reached Lahore Saturday through the Wagah border, was met by Evacuee Trust Property Board Pakistan chairman Asif Hashmi. The delegation returns to India Thursday.

    The report said the last delegation of Hindus visited Pakistan in 2006.

    In 2006-07, Pakistan decided to place idols of Hindu gods in the temples and restore them to their original state to attract Hindu visitors.

    "Minorities present here in Pakistan are given full freedom to celebrate their holy events," Hindu Welfare Council Chairman Shiv Pratap Raj was quoted as saying.

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    14 comments

    • mulla nasruddin
      mulla nasruddin  •  3 months ago
      Thanks for the news. we know so little about our neighbours with whom we share our culture and heritage.It provides forum for exchange of love and friendship and wipes out misgivings Jai Hind
    • chitranjans
      chitranjans  •  3 months ago
      AUM.
      It is heartening to note that a group of 50 Hindus from Bharat went to Pakistan to celebrate Mahashivratri in the 900-year old temple at Katasraj in the Pakistan Punjab. The Yatris and the govt of Pakistan deserve to be congratulated Such exchanges of Teerth Yatris should go on frequently and it will be Confidence Building Measure.
    • Puran
      Puran  •  Brighton, United Kingdom  •  3 months ago
      A great step forward by Pakistan and it really sets a possitive vision for Hindus in Pakistan or all around the world. Pakistanis will be seen as normal and open minded people by this act. As in India every Ancient and Historical Temples, Mosques, Churches, Gurudwars or other Palaces and Forts are protected and preserved for the sake of art, beauti and heritage wealth as well as for the cultural and traditional importance to bring everyone together and respect what matters for each others faith and beleives. We can't force anyone to believe in one thing in this it age. We have to respect everyone and be open.
      This is really good and also I apeal people to support eachother on hard times as well, many people are dieing across the borders with cold in Afganistan and in the high parts of himalayas.
    • rohidas
      rohidas  •  Erbil, Iraq  •  3 months ago
      Good news.... Thanks to all my Pakistani... brother for matual understanding & support ..we must show the world that we are the best....
    • Lx*
      Lx*  •  Kannur, Kerala  •  3 months ago
      ... it is ll good!
    • Arya
      Arya  •  3 months ago
      I think people are going overboard in praising the minimal act of civility shown. This only encourages bad behavior. It is as if we accept bad behavior as norm and shall give rewards for tiny acts of basic civility.
      • RobertL
        RobertL 3 months ago
        All feelings of love and goodwill always encourages more of the same from good people on the other side. All feelings of hatred and disunity encourages more of the same. Love is the way my friend. Practice love and joy and you will see the best of life and in others also. You can know the truth of this in your own family.
      • Arya
        Arya 3 months ago
        That is indeed good rhetoric. However from a practical perspective if you practice showering love on the one habituated to the worst behavior you only give a message in the world that encourages bad behavior. You need to see this correct and factual perspective with love dude.
    • AppaRao
      AppaRao  •  Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh  •  3 months ago
      Hara Hara Mahadev!
    • Anynonmous
      Anynonmous  •  San Ramon, United States  •  3 months ago
      once in a while, things like this melt my heart and give me hope that there is some humanity left in the world
    • Intrepida
      Intrepida  •  3 months ago
      This is really cool, it would be nice to see pictures of the temple! hope the last line is true
    • Ramesh
      Ramesh  •  Los Angeles, United States  •  3 months ago
      I have Muslim friends from India and Pakistan. I know my Muslim friends in India are celeberating their holy days. I always wonder about the few Hindus scattered in Pakistan. So, this news is good for one and all
    • Vineet
      Vineet  •  New York, United States  •  3 months ago
      good move by pakistan...i hope the brotherhood persists forever...jai Hind...
    • vijay
      vijay  •  3 months ago
      i think all country have bad and good peopleand also mostly brain washed,so due to some reason , we should not hate other.
      shiva means looks shiv in all and everywhere.
      thank you for pakistanis for take care all my brothers living there, like we care your brothers in india.pray and let them pray....
      jay bhole
    • sriROHITH ENT
      sriROHITH ENT  •  3 months ago
      Its fantastic that we have Hindu temples are in Muslim country i.e., 900 yr old, why people fight in India for babri masjid &others places.
      • Smitha
        Smitha 2 months ago
        You forgot that Pakistan was India only 60+ years ago and had twice the number of temples it has now. 50% is destroyed so far. Here's what makes it worse, India had only temples during 700 AD but after that Islamic Invasions have destroyed 70% of temples, all such temples are converted or built over as mosques after that. including Babri structure. Knowledge of history is key.
    • Vijay Manohar
      Vijay Manohar  •  Bangalore, Karnataka  •  3 months ago
      It seems. Pakistan is learning some manners.
      • satyasai
        satyasai 3 months ago
        @Vijay Manohar,
        Its time you observe some common sense!
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