Almost 1,000-year-old Shawala Teja Singh Temple located in Sialkot city of Pakistan, which was sealed for last 72 years, has been re-opened for devotees for the 1st time since partition. Decision to reopen temple was issued by Paksitan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Shawala Teja Singh Temple
History: Shawala Teja Singh temple is an ancient Hindu temple which was built by Sardar Teja Singh. It is dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva, in Sialkot in Punjab province of Pakistan. Pilgrims climb a steep staircase to reach temple. It was shut down during Partition. In1992 a mob protesting against demolition of Babri Masjid in India had reportedly damaged temple, following which Hindu pilgrims had stopped visiting it.
Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) looks after holy places of minorities in Pakistan. ETPB has opened Shawala Teja Singh temple after Partition on demand of local Hindu community. The board is also undertaking restoration work of this temple which is still underway and is expected to complete it shortly.
Significance of Re-opening:
Restoring and re-opening of Shawala Teja Singh temple is a major decision in favour of Hindu pilgrims who form biggest minority community in Pakistan. As per official estimates nearly 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. Majority of them are settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslims.
Hindu pilgrim from India will also be able to visit the temple.
tan has opened a 1,000-year-old Hindu temple in eastern city Sialkot for "worship" for the first time since partition on the demand of the local Hindu community, officials said on Monday.
The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city's congested Dhaarowal locality, some 100-km from Lahore, is more than 1,000 years old, according to the book 'History of Sialkot' by the late Rashid Niaz.
"The Evacuee Trust Property Board, which looks after the holy places of minorities in Pakistan, has opened Shawala Teja Singh temple after the partition on the demand of the local Hindu community," ETPB spokesperson Amir Hashmi told PTI.
He said since there was no Hindu population earlier residing in the city the temple was closed for worship.
"The temple was partially damaged during attacks on temples here in reaction to Babri Mosque in 1992," he said, adding that the ETPB carried out restoration work of the temple on the direction of Board chairman Dr Amir Ahmed recently.
ETPB Deputy Director Fraz Abbas told PTI that the restoration work of this temple is still underway and the board is expected to complete it shortly.
"The temple has been opened for worship for the first time since partition. Some 2,000 Hindus are residing in this locality and they are so happy to visit their centuries-old worship place. Now a good number of local Hindus are visiting it. Hindus from other parts of the country are also expected to visit this temple," he said.
Abbas said the visiting Indian Hindus will also be taken to this temple.
Local Hindu leaders Rattan Laal and Rumaish Kumar have welcomed the government's step to restore the temple and open it for the minority community.
Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.
According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.
Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with their Muslim fellows.
Shawala Teja Singh
|date=July 2019}} Shawala Teja Singh templeis a 1000 years old Hindu temple in Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan.[1] After the Partition, the idols of Lord Shiva installed at the ancient temple had disappeared gradually as they had been vandalised several times, especially post-Babri Masjid demolition.Local Hindu leaders have urged the government to ensure the early repairing of the crumbling building of Shawala Teja Singh temple After 72 years Prime Minister Imran Khan, reopened the temple to Hindus.Pakistan government's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has chalked out a plan for the renovation and preservation of the ‘shivala’ with the help of Lahore-based Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation
