A group of 68 Hindu devotees from Pakistan’s Sindh province arrived in Prayagraj to participate in the Maha Kumbh. These devotees took a holy dip in the sacred Sangam and performed rituals to immerse the ashes of their ancestors. They traveled with a special visa, granted specifically for this religious purpose. Mahant Ramnath, who accompanied the group, shared that prior to arriving in Prayagraj, they visited Haridwar to immerse the ashes of approximately 480 ancestors before continuing their pilgrimage to Prayagraj. During Maha Kumbh, they offered prayers for the peace of their forebears’ souls.
Devotees’ Spiritual Experience at Sangam
According to the Information Department, the devotees took a dip in the holy Sangam on Thursday, seeking blessings for their ancestors’ souls. Gobind Ram Makhija, a devotee from Sindh, expressed his deep desire to visit Maha Kumbh, stating, “For the last few months, we have been hearing about Maha Kumbh and longed to be a part of it. We couldn’t resist coming.”
Young Devotees Experience Kumbh for the First Time
Makhija recalled that in April last year, 250 people from Pakistan had come to Prayagraj for a holy dip in the Ganga. This time, 68 devotees from six districts of Sindh—Gotki, Sakkar, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Karjkot, and Jatabal—participated, with about 50 experiencing Maha Kumbh for the first time. “It is a divine experience, and words cannot express our emotions. Being here fills us with pride in our Sanatan Dharma,” he added.
Among the devotees was Surabhi, an 11th-grade student from Gotki, Sindh, who visited India and Maha Kumbh for the first time. She shared, “This is my first opportunity to witness our religious traditions up close. It is an overwhelming experience.”
Witnessing Indian Culture Firsthand
Priyanka, another devotee from Sindh, expressed her awe at experiencing Indian culture firsthand. “It is a divine feeling to witness our culture here. I am a housewife, and visiting India is one of my greatest fortunes. While we live among Muslims in Sindh, and there is not as much discrimination as often portrayed in the media, being here offers us a chance to reconnect with our roots,” she said.
Niranjan Chawla, a devotee from Sakkar district, weighed in on India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), stating, “In Sindh, there isn’t a strong inclination among Hindus to apply for Indian citizenship. However, challenges exist in certain regions, such as Rajasthan (part of Pakistan).”
Request to Ease Visa Procedures
Chawla, who works in the construction sector, appealed to the Indian government to simplify the visa application process. “Currently, obtaining a visa takes nearly six months. We were fortunate to receive our visas quickly for this pilgrimage, and we extend our gratitude to the Indian authorities,” he stated.
The group plans to depart for Raipur on February 8 before heading to Haridwar, where some devotees will immerse six urns of ashes. “We are eager to meet the saints of the Akharas and explore the entire Maha Kumbh fair before we leave,” Chawla added.
This pilgrimage not only fulfills a religious duty but also strengthens the cultural and spiritual bonds between Hindus in Pakistan and India.