Hindu Parishad officials said the rituals would continue overnight till Sunday afternoon.
Over 200 Hindu pilgrims from India, the US and the Gulf countries on Saturday offered prayers at the 100-year-old Maharaja Paramhans ji temple in northwest Pakistan amid tight security deployment of 600 personnel.
The temple and ‘samadhi’ of Paramhans ji in Teri village of Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa underwent extensive repairs last year. angry mob broke There is condemnation happening globally in 2020.
The Hindu delegation included around 200 pilgrims from India, fifteen from Dubai, the rest from the US and other Gulf states.
Officials said the Indian travelers crossed the Wagah border near Lahore and were escorted to the temple by armed personnel.
The event has been organized by Pakistani Hindu Parishad in association with Pakistan International Airlines.
On that day, the funeral memorial and Teri village were largely fortified with 600 personnel from Rangers, Intelligence and Airport Security Force led by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police.
Hindu Parishad officials said the rituals would go on throughout the night till Sunday afternoon.
The ‘hujras’ or open air reception rooms were converted into shelters for the pilgrims.
Markets near the temple were seen buzzing with tourists and children of the Hindu contingent were seen playing cricket with local children.
In-charge, Legal Affairs, Hindu Community, Rohit Kumar commended the Government of Pakistan for the arrangements and repair works. “Today’s prayer at the temple by travelers from India is a positive message for India, to promote peace and religious harmony in the region,” he said.
The Pakistan Hindu Parishad has promoted the initiative under the aegis of “Faith Tourism”.
Maharaj Paramhans ji died in Teri village in 1919.
The ‘Samadhi’ was vandalized on 30 December 2020 by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) mob. The temple was also demolished in 1997.
It was renovated after the provincial government recovered ₹3.3 crore from the JUI-F mob.
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