Forward of Mahashivratri, 60 go away for Katas Raj temples
Amritsar, February 16
Round 60 members crossed over to Pakistan on a six-day pilgrimage to rejoice Mahashivratri at Shree Katas Raj temples below the banner of the Kendriya Sanatan Dharam Sabha by means of the Attari-Wagah border at this time.
21 visa papers rejected
We had submitted functions of 135 devotees to the Pak authorities, however solely 114 visas had been granted. Most amongst them couldn’t be part of us as they belong to far-off locations and bought visa affirmation very late. —Tarlok Chand, Jatha chief
Resentment prevailed among the many devotees in opposition to the Pakistan authorities for being robust on granting visas. Some had been left disenchanted as they had been both denied visa or needed to skip the journey attributable to late intimation.
Some pilgrims from far-off locations like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan needed to cancel their prepare bookings and organized expensive flights to hitch the jatha members to depart from Amritsar.
Some pilgrims reached Durgiana Mandir a day previous to their departure for pilgrimage to Pakistan. Some later joined them on the Attari border immediately.
Durgiana Mandir Committee president Luxmi Kanta Chawla stated it was pity that in a rustic with a inhabitants of 140 crore, the Hindu jatha’s power could be in tons of.
“The pilgrimage is deliberate with the advice of the Centre. I request the federal government that the Hindu non secular tour ought to comprise a minimum of 1,000 devotees. Additionally, it must also be ensured that the Pakistan authorities ought to make ample preparations for the keep and meals for the pilgrims,” she stated.
Tarlok Chand, who has been to Hindu shrines in Pakistan often and leads the jatha, appealed to the Pakistan Excessive Fee to be liberalised in granting visas. “We had submitted functions for 135 devotees to the Pakistan authorities, however solely 114 visas had been granted. Most amongst them couldn’t be part of us as they belong to far-off locations and bought late visa affirmation”, he stated.
In the meantime, the pilgrims can have their night time keep at Lahore. The following day, they’ll go away for the temples in Chakwal and have a day’s halt after paying obeisance.