Series: India-Pakistan Heart to Heart
Several invisible tracks albeit inadvertently, could be seen opening in recent times between two warring neighbours soured over the Indo-Pak Partition of 1947, and, lately experiencing the political standoff between the two countries. However the people of countries torn apart by the great divide, still hold onto remnants of the umbilical cord, of shared history, common people, and shared cultural heritage. Incidentally, both nations are seen to be taking tiny cautious steps seemingly humanitarian, but definitely towards each other. Greater Jammu Tracks them down:
Panch Mukhi Hanuman Temple Karachi Pakistan Track I
EXCLUSIVE
Pakistan Hindu Council Hosts the 1st time, ‘Minority Heritage Tales Video Challenge’ to highlight Cultural Diversity of Pakistan
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR 2nd May 2024—
Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) took a hitherto unique initiative in its Phaze –II – wherein it held a month-long “Minority Heritage Tales Video Challenge Contest” organized by its Patron-in-Chief Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani. Talking to the author over the phone, Dr. Vankani, referred to the video contest as a “vibrant celebration of Pakistan’s minorities’ rich cultural heritage”. Adding- “This initiative is aimed to highlight and preserve the diverse heritage sites across Pakistan of various communities and faiths”. In Phase –I, the PHC’s initiative of a “Photo” Contest of Heritage Sites of Minorities of Pakistan”, was a huge success in 2023.
In 2024, from a plethora of more than 100 entries, the selection committee curated 100 videos, each capturing the grandeur and historical significance of minority-owned heritage sites. Following an evaluation process, 15 exceptional videos were shortlisted and declared winners, presenting heritage sites in diverse areas in all provinces as far away as Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan.
Avinash Sharma, Director cum Member of the Review Committee of the Contest, talking from Lahore stated-“What distinguishes this contest is its inclusive nature. Participants from various backgrounds, including members of the Muslim community and women, actively contributed to the event. The winning entries showcased a wide range of minority heritage sites, including Jain, Hindu Temples, Gurdwaras, Shrines, Buddhist Stupas, Monasteries, and Churches, illustrating the diverse cultural landscape of Pakistan”.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani Patron PHC, a prominent figure in cultural preservation, declared the list of winners commemorating World Heritage Day, while emphasizing the importance of safeguarding and celebrating Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage. The event underscored the unity and appreciation of diversity within Pakistan’s cultural realm.
Sabahuddin Qazi Editor, Press Network of Pakistan, while interacting from Islamabad with the writer, about Pak’s unique countrywide Contest explained –“There were three clinching factors that were considered in choosing 15-top video tales of Heritage monuments of minority communities of Pakistan. First – The Social media engagement including views; likes; and shares; Second, the Quality; and Third, the Risk factor to access the site, for instance, the sunken Shiva Temple, in Mirpur in PoK, is on an island across the River Jhelum. When Nangla Dam was built in the area many shrines including a Gurdwara and Mosque were submerged in the dam waters. However, it is only the Shiva Temple that emerges every winter in Pakistan and has borne the vagaries of weather and constant emergence and remains intact to this day. It wouldn’t be long before the quaint Shiva Shrine’s last vestige is lost to the waters.
About 50% weightage was allotted to views and social media engagement; whereas, quality was given 25% weightage; the risk factor to access the heritage site and quality of the video held a weightage of 25% all factored to declare the winners of outstanding videos”.
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Pakistan’s Minority Heritage’s 15 winning sites include
· ‘Pir Pithoro’ Shrine in Sindh;
· Buddha De Yasheni in Kargah Nallah, Gilgit;
· Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Sahib in Pakistani Punjab;
· Jain Temple in Nagarparkar, Sindh;
· Sri Varun Dev Mandir of Karachi;
· Christ Church in Rawalpindi;
· Swami Narain Temple in Karachi;
· Lal Mandir Mirpurkhas;
· Shivala Temple Mangla Dam in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir;
· Takht –i-Bahi Buddhist Monastery in Khyber Pakhtoonwa (KPK);
· Amlukdhara Stupa (KPK);
· Sadh Belo in Sukkur Sindh;
· Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Balochistan;
· Kahan Marhi Pran Nath Mandir, in Sindh.
Incidentally, only seven videographers from the minority communities in Pakistan were the winners; out of 15 videos that bagged prizes. The list of winning Heritage site videos included – eight Hindu Temples, one Gurdwara, two Pir Asthans, three Buddhist Temples, one Christian, and one Jain shrine.
Patron-in-Chief and MP Dr. Vankwani presided over the glittering Prize distribution ceremony organized by the Pakistan Hindu Council at PHC Secretariat Karachi. Fifteen entries bagged prize money of PKR 30,000 each. The list of winners was carried on the official website and other handles of the Pakistan Hindu Council including on Facebook, YouTube, ‘X’, Instagram, and other social media accounts. PHC gave Rs 4, 50,000 as Prize money. Significantly as many as 53% of the participating videographers professionals and amateurs were from the Muslim community, highlighting the broad outreach and interfaith harmony promoted by the Pakistan Hindu Council to bring the majority community to video graph the rich heritage of other faiths. Eight out of fifteen final toppers were Muslims.
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Writer’s Note: Darshan of “Swami Narayan Mandir,” of Karachi Pakistan
In a completely divine spell, I set afoot in the holy premises of the “Swami Narayan Mandir,” of Karachi, Pakistan in the year 2016. I was in for a pleasant surprise. As I crossed the threshold, standing on tiptoe to ring the Temple bell, the temple’s location became invisible amidst the color and grandeur of its structure, and soft fragrance of incense, Chandan, and dhoop, and the soft sound of bhajans. Not even an iota of a dissimilarity stood out, from the ones back home. The artistry, sculptor of scriptural legends, deities, gods and goddesses, varied poses-forms and accompaniments like the lotus flower, the Krishna Chakra, and the conch shell, flowers, animals, and birds, and Temple architecture were as remarkable, bathed in deep fragrance of Hinduism as any ancient Hindu temple of repute based in India.
The pilgrimage evoked a sentiment of –Wohi Mohak Dehleez, Wohi Dilkash Mandir ki Ghanti, Wohi Nirchhal Tilak, Wohi Ati Swadisht Prasad, Kuch Bhi Alag Na Tha [That very enchanting Temple entryway, that captivating temple bell, that innocent calming sandalwood anointment on forehead of Tilak, that very delicious offering of Temple prasad, Nothing was different!]
Suddenly a peacock landed and precariously settled its long beautiful mane of gorgeous feathers on a low wall of the Swami Narayan temple, barely two feet away from me. Behind it glowed a lamp imparting the bird a deific halo around its head. Its red eyes twinkled as its crowned head bobbed from side to side. It was indeed a timeless and an eternity moment of spellbinding beauty for me! Paying my obeisance to the Temple deity and the Bird, I felt a sensation of bliss and purity, and a humbling within myself owing to a beautiful ‘Darshan’ and the close encounter sight that came like ‘Manaa from the Heaven’ bringing an intermingled sensation of surprise and delight.
Rows of Hindu and other devotees, pulled back to let an Indian devotee reach the altar first, like a special person, it overwhelmed me. I returned to India, in a cloud of some heartrending lyrics ringing from a song in the hit Indo-Pak film -Veer Zara – “Aisa Hi Des Hai Meraa, Jesa Des Teraa .”
PS: Peacock, is considered the most holy bird in Hindu Scriptures.
The peacock is a declared National Bird of India.
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Rashmi Talwar Saanjh-Togetherness 