3rd time after Partition: 400 urns filled with ashes of Pakistan’s Hindus reach India for immersion in Ganga

ATTARI: For the third time since the Partition, a group of Hindus arrived in India from neighbouring Pakistan carrying nearly 400 urns containing the ashes of the deceased Hindus.

The group wants to immerse these ashes in the Ganga river at Haridwar. They are also hoping to get permission to visit Prayagraj for a holy dip at the Mahakumbh.

Many Hindus in Pakistan harbour the wish that, upon their death, their ashes be immersed in the Ganga river, Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj, mahant of Shri Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, Karachi, upon his arrival at Attari on Monday.

Alternatively, their relatives often wish to fulfill this sacred obligation on their behalf. As a result, the ashes are preserved in ‘kalash (urn)' at temples, and once a substantial number is reached, efforts are made to obtain Indian visas so that the final wishes of the deceased or their families can be fulfilled, informed Ram Nath Mishra.

He further said he was carrying approximately 400 urns for performing the last rites of the deceased Hindus from Pakistan.

Vijay Sharma, general secretary, Sri Devothan Sewa Samiti, Delhi, who, along with a dozen others, arrived at Attari to receive the urns brought from Pakistan, informed that from Feb 4 to 21, these urns would be kept at Nigam Bodh Ghat, Delhi's oldest and largest cremation ground, for the public to pay their respects.

On Feb 21, the urns would then be taken to Haridwar, following Vedic traditions, and immersed at Sitaghat in Kankhal on Feb 22, accompanied by a ceremonial offering of 100 kg of milk.

The Pak Hindu group has got the visa to visit Lucknow and Haridwar. Ram Nath Mishra said they were hopeful of getting a visa extension to visit Prayagraj so that they could take a holy dip at the Mahakumbh, their lifetime desire.

In the past, a group of Hindus from Pakistan arrived in India in 2011 and 2016 carrying ashes of 135 and 160 deceased Hindus, respectively. "This is the third visit of any Hindu group carrying ashes of Hindus for immersion in India since 1947," said Ram Nath Mishra.

Vijay Sharma urged the Indian govt to issue visas to the Hindus who wish to perform the last rites of their dead ones at Haridwar, adding that they would also raise their demand through all the platforms.