The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - World: "Symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in ruins
Islamabad, November 14
A famous shrine of a Pakistani mystic, who had Muslim, Hindu and Sikh followers, is in ruins after decades of neglect.
Baba Mohan Das’s shrine at Kornali village in Rawalpindi district drew hundreds of followers and is steeped in history.
The mystic was so influenced by Muslim saints that Muslims thought he had embraced Islam, while Sikhs thought him to be a follower of Guru Nanak.
According to the Rawalpindi Gazette, over 10,000 visitors from as far away as Delhi and Amritsar attended the Baisakhi fair organised near his cave at a particular time in the year.
Sufi Arif Adeeb Kiani, a poet and resident of Kornali, told the Dawn newspaper, “I still remember that till the partition of India, Baba Mohan Das’s Baisakhi festival was a cynosure of all eyes. Oxen races, horse racing, kabaddi and weightlifting contests were the highlights of the fair.
“I have heard from my elders that followers of all three religions - Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism -- tried to take the body of the mystic in their custody when he passed away. Muslims tried to bury him and Hindus wanted to cremate him.”
Legend has it that the body of Baba Mohan Das miraculously disappeared after his death.
“The followers had no option but to divide the blanket that he used to wear. The Muslims buried it, and the Hindus and Sikhs performed their rituals,” Kiani said. —"
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
