For observing Mahashivratri, Indian Pilgrims to visit Katasraj in Pakistan .

A group of Hindus arrive from India to participate in Mahashivratri festival in Pakistan.

After spending tonight at Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, the Hindu pilgrims will leave for Katas Raj Temples on Thursday to attend the main Mahashivratri festival.

Upendra Bharti  | HENB   | New Delhi  | March 6, 2024:: A group of over 112 devotees crossed over to Pakistan for a six-day pilgrimage to celebrate Mahashivratri at the Katasraj cluster of temples under the banner of Kendriya Sanatan Dharam Sabha through Attari-Wagah border today, as reported in The Tribune India.

“A total of 62 Hindu pilgrims arrived in Lahore from India on Wednesday to take part in Mahashivratri festivities,” Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) spokesman Amir Hashmi told PTI, as the news appeared in Deccan Herald.

“The main function of Mahashivratri organised by the ETPB will be held on March 9 at the historic Katas Raj Temples in Chakwal, some 300 km from Lahore, in which various political, social and religious leaders will also participate,” Hashmi said.

At Wagah, he said Additional Secretary, Shrines, Rana Shahid Saleem greeted the visiting Hindus led by Vishwanath Bajaj.

“After spending tonight at Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore the Hindu pilgrims will leave for Katas Raj Temples on Thursday to attend the main festival,” he said and added the ETPB is providing security, accommodation and transportation for them.

As per Tribune India, The Pakistan High Commission on Monday issued 112 visas to the group of pilgrims from India to facilitate their travel to the temples in Punjab province’s Chakwal district.

The pilgrimage is planned between March 6 and 12.

The pilgrims will return to Lahore on March 10 and on March 11 they will visit the Krishna Temple, Lahore Fort and other historical places in Lahore. They will return to their homeland on March 12.

Some pilgrims hailing from far-off places like New Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Visakhapatnam had reached Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar last evening and the rest of them joined them at Attari border this morning.

There was resentment among the devotees who were denied visas as they had to skip the trip at the eleventh hour. It is learnt that the confirmation for visas was announced just an evening prior to the scheduled pilgrimage, leading to harassment to pilgrims.

Most of the Hindu Temples in Pakistan are destroyed pr under the threat of Islamic fanatics. But some rare exceptions are there, like Katasraj or Hinglaj, which are protected anyway under international conservation or by enormous Hindu struggle.

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on this night. In celebration of their divine union, the day is celebrated as ‘The Night of Lord Shiva’.

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__Inputs from PTI and Tribune India.