Pakistan Govt Restoring Lahore Krishna Temple

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Pakistan Govt Restoring Lahore Krishna Temple

 

Work has begun on a $20,000 project to renovate and expand the sole

Hindu temple in Lahore that was damaged in the wake of the Babri

mosque demolition in 1992.

 

The Evacuee Trust Property Board is overseeing the repair work on

the Krishna temple, which some believe is at least 80 years old.

 

"The lone temple had been in a dilapidated condition since the

locals attacked it in the wake of Babri mosque destruction. The mob

not only removed the idol of Lord Krishna but also damaged the main

rooms after which cracks appeared in the main walls," The News

reported on Saturday.

 

The local Hindu community, led by Manohar Chand, had long been

demanding the renovation of the temple. However, the paucity of

funds and the anger of the locals over the Babri mosque razing had

been holding up the project, the newspaper added.

 

The restoration work involves refurbishing the main prayer room and

two adjacent rooms, the construction of two new halls, a community

kitchen and a four-room hostel.

 

Marble tiles would be laid on the entire floor while the temple's

façade would be restored according to the original architecture.

Though the exact date of the temple's construction is not known, it

is considered at least 80 years old, said Muhammad Bashir, who

resides adjacent to the temple.

 

He said his grandfather told him that the temple once had a huge

veranda that has now ceased to exist. After the partition of the sub-

continent in 1947, a number of people occupied the land around the

temple and the government later legalised this.

 

This is the second major temple renovation project begun in Pakistan

this year. Former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, during his visit

here in June, had launched the restoration work on the Katasraj

temple, considered the second most holy Hindu shrine in undivided

Punjab.

 

Work has also begun on creating a cremation ground along the Ravi

river with Rs.50,000 being sanctioned for constructing a 2,000-foot

perimeter wall and other infrastructure.

 

There were 14 cremation grounds in Lahore before partition. Most of

these have been taken over by land mafias and others.

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1425596,000500020000.htm