QUETTA: The three-day annual festival of historic Hinglaj Mata Temple, located in the rugged mountainous region of Hingol, around 150 kilometres from Uthal in Lasbela district, concluded with full religious rituals and traditional celebrations.
This year, a record number of nearly 200,000 Hindu devotees and pilgrims from across Pakistan participated in the event, reflecting strong religious devotion and an encouraging example of interfaith harmony.
For the successful conduct of festival, the Balochistan government, PDMA and district administration made extensive arrangements. PDMA distributed ration bags and other essential items among pilgrims. Deputy Commissioner Lasbela Humaira Baloch and SSP Najeebullah Pandrani remained present at the site to supervise administrative and security matters.
To ensure pilgrims’ safety, contingents of the Pakistan Army, FC, Police and Levies were deployed, providing foolproof security. Under humanitarian efforts, Pakistan Coast Guards, PPHI and Lasbela Health Department established free medical camps where specialist doctors and lady doctors examined hundreds of pilgrims and provided free medicines.
The Shri Hinglaj Mata Welfare Mandli arranged a 24-hour “Bhandara” (langar), ensuring uninterrupted provision of food, cold water, sherbet and tea. Mandli officials, including President Mukhi Vinod Kumar Lasi, General Secretary Veersi Mal Kediwani, Dr Tola Ram Lasi, spokesperson Parkash Kumar Lasi and hundreds of volunteers remained engaged in serving pilgrims round the clock.
Speaking to the media, spokesperson Parkash Kumar Lasi said thousands of devotees travel on foot for days from various cities of Sindh in extreme heat to visit the sacred shrine and pray for fulfilment of their wishes. He said the record increase in pilgrims reflects their deep spiritual connection with the holy site.
Several political and social figures also visited the temple and participated in rituals, including JUI leader and former Balochistan MPA Mukhi Sham Lal Lasi, Sindh Governor’s Coordinator Vishal Palyani, MPA Sanjay Kumar and others. Hundreds of stalls were set up at the festival selling religious souvenirs, badges and traditional items. After completing sacred rituals, pilgrims departed for their respective areas while offering prayers.
Meanwhile, Senator Dhanesh Kumar termed Hinglaj Mata Temple one of the most sacred sites in Hinduism, stating that the arrival of three times more pilgrims than last year is proof of interfaith harmony and of Pakistan being a safe country. Talking to the media during the annual celebrations, he said that pilgrims were performing their religious rituals in the harsh mountainous region of Balochistan without fear.
The senator said that the Balochistan government provided Rs45 million worth of ration and 30,000 mosquito nets for pilgrims.
Senator Dhanesh Kumar and MPA Sanjay Kumar visited the festival site, participated in rituals, and distributed food among pilgrims at the traditional bhandara.
