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LAHORE, PAKISTAN, March 8, 2005: More than 2,000 Hindu pilgrims have crossed over to Pakistan to participate in the three-day Maha Sivaratri festival at Katas Raj Mandir in Chakwal in an effort to teach the nuances of the rituals associated with the festival. “Pakistani Hindus, especially those in Punjab, do not know the proper way to worship and use photographs of Gods and Goddesses, instead of icons. We invite all Pakistani Hindus to come to India and observe how we worship. SDPS will host them,” Daily Times quoted Prof Krishan Chand, the leader of the delegation as saying. The delegation, will leave for Chakwal on Tuesday and head to Shri Katasrai Mandir on March 9 and return to India on March 12. Chand added that Lt Gen (Retd) Zulfiqar Ali Khan, the chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property, Board (ETPB), who welcomed the delegation, would be the chief guest at Maha Sivaratri and would be subsequently invited to India by Sanathan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha (SDPS). Khan has directed security officials to ensure the Hindu pilgrims have a safe trip. “We are satisfied with the care taking of Hindu historical religious places in Pakistan, but there is still some renovation to be done. Last year, ETPB officials told us that the government had allocated US$285,000 for this purpose. Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Choutala also donated $2.2 million,” Chand added.

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