Pilgrims from India, US, UAE pray at 100-yr-old renovated temple in Pak

Peshawar, January 2

Over 200 Hindu pilgrims from India, the US and the Gulf region prayed at the 100-year-old renovated Maharaja Paramhans Ji mandir in Pakistan on Saturday amid tight security, a year after the temple was demolished by a mob belonging to a radical Islamist party.

The delegation of Hindus consisted of nearly 200 devotees from India, 15 from Dubai, the rest from the US and other Gulf states.

Was demolished in 2020

• The temple and ‘samadhi’ of Paramhans Ji in Karak district’s Teri village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa underwent extensive repair last year after it was demolished by an angry mob in 2020
• Maharaaj Paramhans died at Teri village in 1919
• The Pakistan Hindu Council has promoted the initiative under aegis of ‘faith tourism’

The temple and “Samadhi” of Paramhans Ji in Karak district’s Teri village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa underwent extensive repair last year after it was demolished by an angry mob in 2020, an incident that was condemned globally.

The programme has been organised by the Pakistani Hindu Council in collaboration with the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines.

On the day, the funerary monument and Teri village at large was fortified with 600 men from the Rangers, Intelligence and Airport Security Force keeping guard, led by a Superintendent of Police-rank officer.

The rituals took place until Sunday afternoon, Hindu Council officials said.

‘Hujras’ or open-air reception rooms were converted into shelters for the pilgrims.

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.

Rohit Kumar, in-charge of legal affairs at Hindu Community, commended the Pakistan government for the arrangements and the repair works.

“Today’s prayers at the mandir by yatris from India are a positive message for India, for promoting peace and religious harmony in the region,” he said. — PTI