04-21-2004, 12:57 AM
http://www.lahore.gov.pk/history.htm
Lahore, Apr 16 (IANS) :
The oldest Hindu temple in Pakistan's cultural capital dedicated to
the elder son of Lord Ram is in a dilapidated state, as is an
ancient Sikh shrine.
"The city's oldest temple, dedicated to its founder Loh, is in an
atrocious condition in the Lahore Fort and has been closed to the
public for years.
"A Sikh temple in the fort is also deteriorating and has been closed
for a hundred years," Daily Times reported Friday, quoting sources
in the Archaeology Department.
Loh is how the elder of Ram's twin sons, Luv, is referred to here.
He is credited with founding this city, considered the cultural
capital of Pakistan.
Ram's second son Kush, known here as Kash, is believed to have
founded Lahore's sister town of Kusawar, or Kasur.
Loh's temple is near Alamgiri Gate beside the fort's old jails.
"The temple was closed until 1985 during General Zia-ul Haq's
regime, because the jails were controlled by the police and
civilians weren't allowed in.
"After that, the temple was opened occasionally for visits by the
fort officials. But in 1992, after the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya was
razed, the temple was closed because of the threat of vandalism,"
Times quoted the sources as saying.
"Magicians consider the mud around Loh's temple to be very powerful.
Pirs and magicians send their clients to get mud from around or
inside the temple to make potions," Times said.
Local and foreign Hindus have often tried to visit the temple but
found it closed. An introductory plate giving visitors information
about the temple was once found next to it, but has now been
removed.
Asked why the temple was closed, a guard at the fort said it was on
orders from above.
A fort spokesman told Daily Times the temple was closed for repair
and the gurdwara was shut because there was "nothing to see" on the
inside.
A Times reporter who entered Loh's temple with permission from the
fort administration was told by an employee it was the first time
anyone had ventured there in 22 years.
"The temple was dirty inside. Thick spider webs covered the walls
and it smelt bad. There were no signs of repair work being carried
out," the newspaper said.
The gurdwara in the fort was built when Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled
Lahore. Located outside the Shish Mahal, the temple has been closed
for a hundred years.
Times said Lahore's Sikh and Hindu communities had officially and
unofficially requested the fort administration to open the two
temples.
"Sikhs from Gurdwara Dera Sahib, which is near the fort, even
offered to pay for the renovation of their temple, but they received
no response," the newspaper added.
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?
action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=12090
Lahore, Apr 16 (IANS) :
The oldest Hindu temple in Pakistan's cultural capital dedicated to
the elder son of Lord Ram is in a dilapidated state, as is an
ancient Sikh shrine.
"The city's oldest temple, dedicated to its founder Loh, is in an
atrocious condition in the Lahore Fort and has been closed to the
public for years.
"A Sikh temple in the fort is also deteriorating and has been closed
for a hundred years," Daily Times reported Friday, quoting sources
in the Archaeology Department.
Loh is how the elder of Ram's twin sons, Luv, is referred to here.
He is credited with founding this city, considered the cultural
capital of Pakistan.
Ram's second son Kush, known here as Kash, is believed to have
founded Lahore's sister town of Kusawar, or Kasur.
Loh's temple is near Alamgiri Gate beside the fort's old jails.
"The temple was closed until 1985 during General Zia-ul Haq's
regime, because the jails were controlled by the police and
civilians weren't allowed in.
"After that, the temple was opened occasionally for visits by the
fort officials. But in 1992, after the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya was
razed, the temple was closed because of the threat of vandalism,"
Times quoted the sources as saying.
"Magicians consider the mud around Loh's temple to be very powerful.
Pirs and magicians send their clients to get mud from around or
inside the temple to make potions," Times said.
Local and foreign Hindus have often tried to visit the temple but
found it closed. An introductory plate giving visitors information
about the temple was once found next to it, but has now been
removed.
Asked why the temple was closed, a guard at the fort said it was on
orders from above.
A fort spokesman told Daily Times the temple was closed for repair
and the gurdwara was shut because there was "nothing to see" on the
inside.
A Times reporter who entered Loh's temple with permission from the
fort administration was told by an employee it was the first time
anyone had ventured there in 22 years.
"The temple was dirty inside. Thick spider webs covered the walls
and it smelt bad. There were no signs of repair work being carried
out," the newspaper said.
The gurdwara in the fort was built when Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled
Lahore. Located outside the Shish Mahal, the temple has been closed
for a hundred years.
Times said Lahore's Sikh and Hindu communities had officially and
unofficially requested the fort administration to open the two
temples.
"Sikhs from Gurdwara Dera Sahib, which is near the fort, even
offered to pay for the renovation of their temple, but they received
no response," the newspaper added.
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?
action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=12090