.Hinglaj Mata is a Hindu temple in Hinglaj, on the Makran coast in the Lyari district of Balochistan in Pakistan. Legend has it that when goddess Sati, the consort of god Shiva burnt herself in response to her father's anger at her for not inviting Shiva to a ceremony, Shiva became furious and started to create disasters, problems, violence, and sufferings in the world. In order to calm his anger, god Vishnu took the body of Sati and began to cut it into 51 pieces where they all fell at different parts of the Earth. Hindus believe that the head of Sati fell in the area of Hinglaj Mata in Baluchistan, present-day Pakistan. Thus, this area is a very significant region in the Hindu region and a revered pilgrimage site.
One may still wonder, if that was the case then how come Hinglaj has till continued to be a famous pilgrimage. The reason lies in humanity displayed by the Residents of Baluchistan. The handful of Hindu residents who still reside in Pakistan wouldn’t have resisted the tyrannical wave of demolition that ruined the cultural heritages, if it weren’t the Muslim residents of Baluchistan who stood firm to protect this ancient holy asset of historical glory. It would be discrimination on part of Culture, Secularism and Humanity to call Hinglaj Temple solely as a Hindu Pilgrimage. The fact is Muslims worship it as “Nani-Ka-Haj” which means “Grandmother’s Shrine”.
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(The Hinglaj Goddess at Hinglajgarh in Baluchistan ,Pakistan)
This was a prime pilgrim location for Indians until the sore partition of 1947 where Indians lost access to this cultural heritage, since it was then bounded by Pakistan. Higlaj wasn’t just the only Indian site for worship, there were many such locations in Pakistan that were worship spots for Indians, but the rage of politics destroyed the cultural heritage by storming such worship spots to abandoned dilapidated ramshackle premises. Such spots were Lakhi, the Phuleli site for Jhulelal, the Prahlad-Aditya temple in Multan.One may still wonder, if that was the case then how come Hinglaj has till continued to be a famous pilgrimage. The reason lies in humanity displayed by the Residents of Baluchistan. The handful of Hindu residents who still reside in Pakistan wouldn’t have resisted the tyrannical wave of demolition that ruined the cultural heritages, if it weren’t the Muslim residents of Baluchistan who stood firm to protect this ancient holy asset of historical glory. It would be discrimination on part of Culture, Secularism and Humanity to call Hinglaj Temple solely as a Hindu Pilgrimage. The fact is Muslims worship it as “Nani-Ka-Haj” which means “Grandmother’s Shrine”.
(Nani-Ka-Haj OR“Grandmother’s Shrine”)
Each year they organize a grand cultural-fair at this temple. Muslim residents actively take part in this celebration. They worship the Goddess with the same devotion as they do in the mosque. As for the offerings they carry mostly a Red Cloth, Attar (Perfume) and Agarbattis (Incense Sticks). Just like Hindus they too worship the temple for their cultural rites and rituals. It’s impossible to predict whether it’s a Hindu temple or a Muslim Mosque. That’s the similar situation here in India too where the people from all the religions celebrate each and every festival with a great pomp. It’s a fact that secularism and humanity can’t be restricted by self centered political stance and tyrannical rules.Hingol River bed: Dry as a bone.
A lone hut: a lone hut on the way to hinglaj. (well there were three of them).
At the Hingol: Standing in the hingol river bed.
Cracking up: it's dry, and drying even further
Fossilized Hill:
An idol of Goddess Durga: Inside one of the main temples at Hinglach. This is a picture of an idol of Goddess Durga. Hinglaj Mata is one of 52 known shaktipeeths.
Rain shaped: worn away over the years by the rain and the wind.
Dusk: Somewhere near the hingol river.
Sandy Hills:
Hingol River bed: A view of the hingol river, picture taken somewhere on the way to Hinglaj
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