Swaminarayan Mandir
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Ariel view of Swaminarayan Mandir located at M.A Jinnah Road./ Adil Lakho
Main entrance of Swaminarayan Mandir../ Adil Lakho
By Sufi Shahid & Samia Shehzad
January 31st, 2023.
168 years old Swaminarayan Mandir in old Karachi is believe to be that not only Hindus but also adherents of Islam visit the temple, which adds to its notability.
There is a sacred cowshed within the premises of this temple. The temple is located at the centre of a Hindu neighborhood in Karachi. The building that housed a dharmshala (Guest house) for visiting devotees has now been converted to the office of the City District Government.
The temple became a refugee camp in 1947. The original images of Lord Swaminarayan were removed and taken to India during the turbulent times of independence. One murti that was originally at this temple is now located in Khan Village, Rajasthan. People who wished to settle in India from all over Sindh awaited their departure to India by ship at this temple. The temple was visited by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan during this period. In 1989, for the first time since the independence in 1947, a group of sadhus from the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad visited the temple. Since then, small groups from the Ahmedabad temple pay this temple a visit every few years in a pilgrimage.
According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, Swaminarayan Jayanti, Ram Navami, Janmastami, Dussehra, Diwali and almost all of the main religious festivals are celebrated by Hindus in this temple. Holi is celebrated with the holi bonfire lit at the centre of the temple grounds, followed by the play with colours. Janmashtami is celebrated with singing bhajans and sermons on Krishna, whiles on Diwali, devotees light lamps and candles to welcome Rama from his fourteen-year exile, at the end of which he defeated Ravana and young men burst crackers at the temple on the occasion. The Holi festival celebrations that take place at this temple are the biggest in Karachi.
The temple also doubles up as a marriage venue. In 2008, a mass wedding arrangement was made for 20 poor couples.
This Swaminarayan Temple consists many houses in the limited boundary wall, around 150 to 250 families lives there.
In current scenario, with various communities such as (Sindhi, Gujrati, Rajwari, Marwari, etc of course) in Swaminarayan Temple lives their life in some serious condition due to overflowing of people and congested space.
Decades ago there was a complete jungle behind the main walls but with time to time residents of swaminaraine mandir cleared the paths for building their free houses under the supervision of the local Hindu administration, but now there is no further space left for more buildings/houses for their locals.
According to residents “This is not alarming situation but this is our right and that is seriously necessary for ourselves and for others as well also we don't want any help from others because there are no one willing to help genuinely, the straight demand from the residents is the more and suitable space/land for expansion in Mandir and their houses from the authorities”.
Couple worshiping at mandir. / Sufi Shahid
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