Hindu pilgrims from India given Visas by Pakistan for visiting Sindh Shadani Darbar.

Shadani Darbar in Sindh province.

Amidst the persecution and protocol, Pakistan issues visas to over 100 Indian Hindu pilgrims to visit Shadani Darbar in Sindh province.

Like every years, the group of Hindu pilgrims will be visiting Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi from December 12 to December 23.

Ram Singh Thakur | HENB | Dec 11, 2023:: Pakistan on Friday said that it has issued visas to 104 Indian Hindu pilgrims to allow them to participate in the 315th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, in Sindh province.

A statement issued by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi said that the Indian pilgrims will visit Shadani Darbar in Hayat Pitafi from December 12 to December 23.

Pakistan High Commission issues visas 

In a post on X, the Pakistan High Commission said, “Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issues visas to 104 Indians for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 315th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Sindh from 12-23 December.”

Under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, thousands of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to attend various religious festivals/occasions every year. Visas issued by the Pakistan High Commission are in addition to the visas granted to Hindu and Sikh pilgrims participating in these events from other countries, the statement claimed.

About Shadani Darbar 

Shadani Darbar is a over three hundred years old temple and is a sacred place for Hindu devotees from across the globe. Located in Hayat Pitafi, Ghotki district, Shadani Darbar is believed to be one of the biggest Hindu temples in Pakistan’s Sindh province. It was founded in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib. Every year pilgrims across India visit this shrine to celebrate the anniversary of Sant Shadaram Sahib.

According to mythology, Sant Shadaram Sahib is believed to be the avatar of Lord Shiva. He was born in a Lohana Khatri family in Lahore in October 1708. He is also believed to be the descendant of Lord Ram’s son, Lav.

According to the official website of Shadani Darbar, Since the age of 20, Sant Shadaram Sahib traveled to various holy places, such as Haridwar, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Amarnath, Ayodhya, and the Pashupathinath Temple in Nepal. In 1768, he reached Mathelo, the capital of Sindh during the reign of Raja Nand, where he built a Shiv temple and enlightened the sacred holy fire (Dhuni Sahib). After some time he left his temple in the village Mathelo along with his devotees and settled nearest another holy village in Hayat Pitafi and laid the foundation of Shadani Darbar. There he dug one sacred well and enlightened one “Holi Fire” known as “Dhuni Sahib”.

It is also believed that for anyone who seeks blessings from the ‘Dhuni Sahib’ and drinks the water from the well, his all sufferings and misfortunes will come to an end. Apart from this, every year his anniversary is celebrated by organizing ‘Agni pooja’ and mass weddings at the same time. The holy books ‘Geeta’ and Guru Granth Sahib are also recited on this day.

Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, 1974 

Under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, thousands of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to attend various religious festivals and occasions every year.

The issuance of pilgrimage visas is in line with the government of Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate visits to religious shrines and promote interfaith harmony, the press release stated.

Earlier on Dec 1, Sikh pilgrims hailing from diverse corners of the world, including India, concluded their visit to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal after actively participating in religious ceremonies.

Throughout their three-day stay, elaborate religious rituals were conducted, marking the occasion of Baba Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations. Following the culmination of the festivities, pilgrims bid farewell to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal.

Protocol and Persecution 

Though the Hindu and Sikh  pilgrimages from India are allowed to visit Pakistan in the prominent festivals in Shadana Darbar or Nankana Sahib, the religious persecution on Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan is all time high under an cultivation of fanaticism in the Islamic State of Pakistan. Many of Hindu shrines and temples are occupied by the Islamists to run Madrasas or animal shelters. Hindu worship places are forcefully encroached by the radical Muslims or even by Govt agencies. Many of Hindu temples and shrines are converted into shop, residential buildings, and other public utility.

Narain Das Bheel, a Hindu activist in Pakistan reported that a Hindu Mandir has been converted To Masjid  in Sadiqabad Panjab: A Krishna temple in Ahmed Pur Lamma city of Panjab  has been converted into a Madrasa.

 Bheel also reported that a part of Temple Converted To Cattle Farm in Punjab’s  Ahmedpur Lamma city of Pakistan under an utter humiliations.

The minorities in Pakistan including Hindu-Sikh-Christians all are subjected to gross humiliation, torture and apartheid.

Under the continuous persecution on minority Hindus, the percentage  of Hindus came down below  2% from the 14% population of Hindus once existed in Pakistan in 1947 when it was emerged an  Islamic State being separated from undivided India.

High Security arrangements

Stringent security measures were enforced under the direct supervision of Attock DPO. Before their departure, customary rituals were observed, and the pilgrims extended their gratitude to the local administration for making impeccable arrangements.

Sardar Balvinder Singh, the leader of the Bhai Mardana Parbandhak Committee in Delhi, praised the efforts made by the Pakistani government to maintain and restore gurdwaras.

Courtesy: Wikipedia, The Express Tribune and India Tv.