Islamabad Capital Territory doesn’t have the cultural history that provincial capitals enjoy. For far too long, the capital city of Pakistan had no Hindu temple to speak of. Fortunately, this is about to change with the construction of Shri Krishna Mandir.
While Punjab and Sindh have various historic Hindu temples, Islamabad does not. Rawalpindi has a functional Hindu temple ‘Ganesha Mandir‘ situated in Ganjmandi and Government Gordon College. Then there’s Bagh Sardaran Mandir, Mohan Mandir
Krishna Mandir in Kabarri bazaar near the railway is still open to the public. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesh and Goddess Sheran Wali.
Islamabad, however, didn’t have its own temple. Therefore people would commute between the Twin Cities to get to the place of worship in Rawalpindi.
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Since people from all over the country, with varying religious backgrounds, come to the capital for work and studies, why not build their own places of worship. Now they finally have the approval to do that.
Islamabad gets a Hindu Temple
Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights, Lal Chand Malhi announced the construction of ‘Shri Krishna Mandir‘.
According to MMNews, the Hindu Panchayat’s Pritam Das, Mahesh Chaudhry, Ashok Kumar, and Chaman Lal also attended the ceremony in which this decision was announced. The budget for the Shri Krishna Mandir has not been revealed.
Lal Chand requested the government of Pakistan to provide funds for the construction of the temple.
It should be mentioned that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) allotted a plot of 4 marlas to the Islamabad Hindu Panchayat in 2017 following the orders of the National Commission for Human Rights. The alloted land, which is in sector H-9/2 will house Shri Krishna temple.
Given the proximity to educational institutions, the location is ideal to take blossoming professionals on brief university trips to the temple. It is only with progressive young people does a nation reform its values.
During the announcement ceremony, Lal Chand said that while India has shifted to a regressive approach with efforts to prevent minorities from going to the mosque in Indian occupied Kashmir, Pakistan is trying to change for the better.
“On the other hand, we are constructing Shri Krishna Mandir in Islamabad.”
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Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights said that the provision of rights to minorities is the policy of the state and the Government of Pakistan. He further asserted that Pakistan’s policy is to give rights to minorities, citizens, and residents.
Shri Krishna Mandir is the first Hindu temple to be constructed in the federal capital since independence. The Hindu community in Islamabad will finally have a functional temple in their own city.
