Indian pilgrims find Pakistan a safe and loveable place they will like to come to again and again

SUKKUR: “We get love and respect in this country. Our hearts beat with the people of Pakistan,” says Udaster Lal Shadani, the custodian of the Shadani Darbar, a 300 years old Hindu temple at Hayat Pitafi area in Ghotki district of Sindh.

The father of Udaster Lal, Gobind Ram Shadani, had moved to the Indian city of Raipur in Chhattisgarh state in the wake of the partition of the subcontinent.

After the demise of Gobind, Udaster inherited the custodianship of the temple which was located hundreds of miles away in the territories of what many in India described as a hostile neighbor.

However, Udaster Lal had to perform annual worship ceremonies at the Shadani Darbar and come to Pakistan along with dozens of other pilgrims.

“Since the death of my father, I have come to Pakistan almost every year in winter and I have always been humbled by the love that the people of this country shower on us,” he says. This year, Udaster Lal Shundhani, who is regarded as a sant or holy man, is accompanied by 127 Indian pilgrims who have not only performed worship at the Darbar but also at a number of other sacred sites.

“In Pakistan, there are a number of places regarded as sacred to Hindus,” said one of the pilgrims.

“Only in Sindh province, we have the Raharki Darbar [near Deharki], Kalka Devi temple [located in Aror], Jind Pir temple and Wasan Shah Darbar Mandir [in Rohri] and Jhule Lal temple [at Odero Lal in Matiari district]. Today we will perform worship at the Sadhu Bela,” he said, his face beaming with joy.

The Shri Sadhu Bela Teerath Asthan near Sukkur is considered to be the most beautiful and largest Hindu place of worship in Pakistan. Together with the Hanglaj Mata Mandir and the Shri Katas Raj Mandir, it is also regarded as one of the three most revered places of Hinduism in the country.

It is located on an island in the middle of the River Indus and houses eight temples – apart from the main temple of Baba Bankhandi Maharaj. These temples are associated with Mata Annapurna, Shivji Maharaj, Sat-e-Narain, Hanuman and Ganeshji.

When the flock of pilgrims reached the Island by boats, hundreds of people including the administration of Sadhu Bela welcomed them by showering flower petals on them.

A group of people was also cheering, chanting and dancing to the steady beat of drums. The officials of the Sadhu Bela temple administration presented Udaster Lal with an Ajrak, Sindh’s traditional handmade shawl that is dyed with natural colorings from plants.

Parliamentarian Dr Nafisa Shah, who belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party, the ruling party in Sindh, was also present at the Island to welcome the pilgrims on behalf of the government. Talking to journalists, Udaster Lal said the common people of Pakistan and India love each other.

“Whenever we come to Pakistan, we get a lot of love. The way the people of Pakistan in general and Sindh in particular shower us with love is amazing. We can’t describe our feelings in words.”

He also expressed satisfaction at the arrangements made by the Government of Pakistan to facilitate the pilgrims, protect the religious minorities and build and repair temples and sacred sites.

Udaster said the worship at the Shri Sadhu Bela Tirth Asthan, the Wasan Shah Darbar and the Shadani Darbar is a spiritual experience. “We perform our puja here and we return to India with a feeling of peace and serenity.” The custodian believes that the two countries should exchange goodwill delegations “so that the people of both the countries can meet and interact with each other”. He thanked the government and the people of Pakistan for treating the pilgrims with utmost love and respect.

Speaking to Bol News, one of the pilgrims said Pakistan is a safe country for minorities.

“We feel that here the minorities have full freedom to celebrate their religious festivals. The people of Pakistan also respect minority communities,” he added.

Gita, a Hindu devotee at the Sadhu Bela temple who lives in Tharparkar, said in Pakistan the minority community not only enjoys full religious freedom but also equal rights.” “The Government of Pakistan not only constructs and repairs the places of worship of minority communities, it also provides full security to the minorities particularly during their religious festival.

“Pakistan also welcomes the pilgrims coming to various religious sites from all over the world and gives them complete protection. That is why I am proud of being a Pakistani,” she added.