As terror hits Pak, Hindu jatha cuts short pilgrimage

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 26

The Hindu jatha en route to Katasraj and other temples in Pakistan had to cut short the pilgrimage due to recent series of bomb blasts within a span of 10 days in Lahore that left Pakistan on the edge.

They returned through the Attari-Wagah joint check post today.

Pt Benimadhav Goswami, who had to perform “Rudri Abhishek” prayers at Katasraj temple on behalf of AICC president Sonia Gandhi, too had to curtail the process midway.

“I performed a part of the puja as the security squad at Pakistan did not permit us to perform the concluding part supposed to be conducted at 11 pm on February 24. We will get it done at Haridwar now,” he said.

The jatha led by Kendriya Sanatan Dharam Sabha, comprising 210 devotees, left for Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border on February 22.

The pilgrims paid obeisance at Katasraj temple on Mahashivratri. On February 26, the jatha was scheduled to pay obeisance at the samadhi of Luv located in Lahore, followed by other religious programmes scheduled at Sri Krishna Mandir, Lahore, and they were scheduled to return on February 28.

However, the pilgrims were made to vacate Katasraj at 10 pm on February 24 and shifted to a gurdwara.

Pt Ribhu Kant Goswami said the security arrangements at Pakistan were ample, yet it was unanimously decided to shorten the pilgrimage due to disturbing conditions in Pakistan.

“Though the Pakistan authorities deputed around 1,500 to 1,600 personnel for our security, there was unrest due to recent terror attacks in Lahore. We all decided to return due to security concerns,” he said.

As per the India-Pakistan protocol, 1974, a maximum of 200 Hindu devotees could be part of a jatha visiting Katasraj. However, this time the number of devotees was increased and the Pakistan authorities had granted visa to 234 devotees against 250 applications received.