Hinglaj Mata festival draws nearly 300,000 Hindu pilgrims in Balochistan
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QUETTA: The three-day annual festival of the historic Hinglaj Mata Temple concluded successfully on Sunday, with the hope that peace and religious harmony will prevail across the country, and that minorities will work jointly for the development and prosperity of the country.
The religious festival, which began on April 17 in the rugged mountains of Balochistan, has emerged as a powerful symbol of religious harmony and tolerance.
Considered the third-largest Hindu religious gathering after festivals in India and Nepal, the event attracted around 300,000 pilgrims this month, with nearly a million devotees visiting the shrine in a year. The large gathering this year was seen by officials as a message of unity.
Several thousand devotees travelled to the Hinglaj Mata Temple on foot from various areas of Sindh, including Tharparkar, Umerkot, and Sanghar.
The journey, which for many took 20 days, demonstrated a strong religious devotion and served as an example of interfaith harmony.
The Balochistan government, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, and the district
administration made extensive arrangements to ensure the festival ran smoothly.
The PDMA distributed ration bags and other essential items to pilgrims, while Deputy Commissioner Lasbela Humaira Baloch and Senior Superintendent of Police Najeebullah Pandrani remained on site to oversee administrative and security matters.
To ensure pilgrims’ safety, a large-scale security operation was put in place. Contingents of the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Police and Levies were deployed to provide foolproof security for the massive event.
As part of humanitarian efforts, the Pakistan Coast Guards, PPHI, and the Lasbela Health Department established free medical camps.
At these camps, specialist doctors and female doctors examined hundreds of pilgrims and provided free medicines.
The Shri Hinglaj Mata Welfare Mandli also arranged a 24-hour “bhandara” (langar), ensuring an uninterrupted provision of food, cold water, sherbet and tea for all attendees.
Mandli officials, including President Mukhi Vinod Kumar Lasi, General Secretary Veersi Mal Kediwani and spokesperson Parkash Kumar Lasi, worked alongside hundreds of volunteers to serve pilgrims around the clock.
Several political and social figures visited the temple to participate in rituals. Attendees included Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader and former Balochistan Member of Provincial Assembly Mukhi Sham Lal Lasi, Sindh Governor’s Coordinator Vishal Palyani and MPA Sanjay Kumar.
Senator Daanesh Kumar, who also attended, described the temple as one of the most sacred sites in Hinduism.
“The arrival of three times more pilgrims than last year is proof of interfaith harmony and Pakistan being a safe country,” Kumar said while talking to the media. He noted that pilgrims could perform their religious rituals in the harsh, mountainous region without fear.
Kumar added that the festival counters negative propaganda regarding minority rights in the country.
“The Hinglaj Mata Mandir festival sends a clear message to the world that Pakistan respects and protects the rights of minorities and promotes interfaith harmony,” he said.
He also appreciated the efforts of the local administration, volunteers, and the Hinglaj Mata Mandir Committee in ensuring smooth, well-organised arrangements for the pilgrims.
