Over 200 Hindu pilgrims from India, the US and the Gulf prayed at the 100-year-old renovated Hindu temple in northwest Pakistan as the country seeks to send out a message that the country is protective of its minorities. The delegation of Hindus consisted of nearly 200 devotees from India, 15 from the UAE, the rest were from other Gulf states and the US, The Hindu reported.

The Indian pilgrims crossed over through the Wagah Border near Lahore, and were escorted to the Maharaja Paramhans Ji temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan, by armed personnel, officials said. The programme has been organised by the Pakistani Hindu Council in collaboration with Pakistan International Airlines. The religious ceremonies will go on through the night till Sunday, Hindu Council officials were quoted as saying, with the precints guarded by deployment of about 600 security personnel.

Maharaaj Paramhans, a highly revered saint in the region, died at Teri village in 1919.  The temple, and the place where he was created, underwent extensive repair last year after it was demolished by an extremist mob in December 2020, an action that drew condemnation globally. The provincial government renovated it after ₹3.3 crore was recovered from the mob.

The markets near the temple were seen buzzing with tourists and the children from the Hindu contingent were photographed playing cricket with the local kids, local media reported. 

Rohit Kumar, in-charge, Legal Affairs, Hindu Community, commended the Pakistan government for the arrangements and the repair works. "Today's prayers at the mandir by yatris from India is a positive message for India, for promoting peace and religious harmony in the region," he was quoted as saying. 

The Pakistan Hindu Council has promoted the initiative under the aegis of “faith tourism”, supported by a government that is keen to project a better image of Pakistan, one that protects the freedom of worship of minorities and their places of worship.
(SAM)