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| Pro-Hindu religion news from Pakistan | | Move to import Hindu deities' idols from India | |
BL KAK
NEW DELHI, JAN 21
New winds have started blowing across the India-Pakistan border, with the local government in Pakistan's Punjab initiating measures to import idols of Hindu deities from various monuments in India. These idols are for the restoration of the historic Katas Raj temples, according to official reports from Lahore.
The Katas site houses the Satgarha, a group of seven ancient temples, remains of a Buddhist stupa, a few medieval temples, havelis and some recently constructed temples, scattered around a pond considered holy by Hindus. Reports said that the Pakistani authorities had decided to place idols of Hindu deities in the seven temples and to restore them to their original state to attract visitors.
A three-member archaeological team from Pakistan will soon be on an official visit to India. The team would visit various archaeological sites in India and collect idols of Hindu deities. These sites also include Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Ajmer Sharif, Pushkar, Aurangabad, Daultabad, Ajanta and Varanasi between January 20 and 30. Reports said that the main purpose of this tour would be gathering information about the deities, their rituals and decoration of their temples, which would be completed in February. Pictures and idols of the deities would be bought from India and designers would be hired to prepare replicas.
The project for the conservation of the Katas temples and stupas would be completed in February. The total budget allocated for the project is Rs 51.06 million. Most of these temples were erected during the reign of the Hindu Shahias. The earliest of the Katas Raj temples date back to the later half of the sixth century AD. The temples at Katas are mostly constructed on square platforms with cantoned corner pilasters.
The sub shrines' elevation seems to form a series of cornices with small rows of pillars, crowned by a ribbed dome. The Ramachandra temple is situated to the east of the Hari Singh Haveli and is closed from all sides except an entrance on the east. The double-storeyed structure has eight rooms of various dimensions on the ground floor and a staircase at the south leading to the first floor. The temple has two jharokas that have been severely damaged.
The Hanuman temple is on the western extreme of a high rectangular enclosure with entrances on the south and the north. The temple's ceiling is undecorated, and lime-plastered. The Shiva temple is also built on a square platform. Its entrance is a recessed round arch with faint cusps and a rectangular opening to the north. |
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