Shivratri to be celebrated at historic Katasraj Temple

Lahore, Jan 12: Mahashivratri will be celebrated at the historic Katasraj temple near here on February 7 for the first time in decades and the job for making arrangements had been assigned to the Punjab (Province) Archaeology Department (PAD).

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to lead an Indian delegation to attend the festiviies, media reports said here today.

However, Indian officials said they had no information about the visit.

The reports said the plan to celebrate the Mahashivratri were part of a development project for Hindu religious sites at Katasraj.

The idea to hold the festival at Katasraj was mooted during the visit of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani in 2005. Mr Advani had visited the historic Shiva temple during his visit to Pakistan.

The reports said it had also been agreed that arrangements would be made to allow more Hindu pilgrims to visit Katasraj temples in the near future.

Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussein had held a meeting with Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad in September and it had been decided to jointly work on the development of this historic place.

The project for its development would be completed in February.

Work is in progress and some parts of the site have already been developed for the coming Mahashivratri. The 'holy pond' has been conserved and the temple where the festival is to be celebrated, has been prepared for worship.

Bathing ponds for women have also been constructed.

PAD Director Jan Maqbool said this would be a ''grand festival'' for which the Punjab (Province) government had allocated Rs 10.8 million. He said several Hindus had been invited to attend the celebrations and negotiations with the Indian governement had already been held.

Katasraj temples have historic value for the Hindus and find mention even in the Mahabharata.

Hindus believe that Katasraj and Pushkar (Rajasthan) are the two eyes of Lord Shiva.

According to the plan, embankments are being built around the holy bathing pond and boarding and lodging facilities repaired.

Hindus from all over Pakistan visit the Katasraj temples on Mahashivratri. Devotees stay awake the whole night and offer prayers to Lord Shiva.

UNI