April 9, 2024
By Bilal Baseer
ABBOTTABAD
As Abbottabad’s Hindu community prepares to celebrate Holi at the local temple, Darshan Laal, 60, and his family feel left out. “We will perform the rituals at home,” says Imma Darshan, his wife.
The family used to partake in religious celebrations at a temple in Mansehra, where Laal served as its pujari (priest). However, after he was stripped of his position allegedly due to political meddling, they now observe religious festivities and rituals in their home.
“I transformed a small temple that was once surrounded by heaps of garbage, and now it is known the world-over for its Mahashivratri and monsoon events,” he said. “Despite my 30-years-long service and appreciation from authorities and worshippers alike, I was unceremoniously removed.”
While there is no recorded presence of a Hindu population in Mansehra, some 30 Hindu families reside in Hazara who frequent the temple in Mansehra. During the three decades of his services, Laal would commute daily from his home in Abbottabad to Mansehra.
“During the previous tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Ravi Kumar, an MPA representing minorities, used special funds to repair the temple. Despite my decades-long involvement in its upkeep, he raised objections to my association with the temple, which eventually resulted in my expulsion,” Laal disclosed this to Voicepk.net. “He appointed a priest of his choosing, even acquiring a local residence and listing the temple’s address on the new priest’s identity card within three years.”
However, when contacted, Kumar denied Laal’s allegations, providing that as an MPA he has no authority over appointments or dismissals of temple staff, rather the discretion lies with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
Despite the fact that not many Hindus reside in this region, worshippers from across the country visit the Mansehra temple twice a year to observe special festivals.
Laal, who is a father of three children, said that devoted himself completely in the service of the temple for over 30 years of his life.
“I never developed any other source of livelihood. My family is supporting us presently,” he provided, adding that his children are being educated at a private school in Abbottabad for free.
“The ETPB keeps telling me that whenever a good chairperson is appointed, your job will be reinstated,” he told Voicepk.net. “Many times I have visited the ETPB office in Lahore as well as their regional office in Hassan Abdal. Many times officials came to the temple to give me false assurances that I would be re-hired whenever there is an order. But so far, no such order has come.”
Laal has a strong relationship with the local Muslim community, and mentioned that during Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations, Muslim brothers organize programs in which local Hindus actively participate. Similarly, during Diwali, Holi, and other Hindu festivals, Christian priests and Muslim clerics, including Hazara’s khatib, visit Hindu households with sweets and gifts.
Zafar Iqbal, a local religious leader and an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, expressed his admiration for the Darshan family, describing them as a very respectable family.
“They are good, honest people. Laal’s selfless services are indispensable for his community. It is therefore my appeal to the relevant authorities that the injustices done to this family be addressed,” he said.
Although Laal has been ousted from the temple, he says that to ease his spirit, he visits the temple once a week.
“I want to be paid for my 30 year long service at the temple, and when I retire, I want someone from Abbottabad to take over as caretaker,” he added.
The local Hindu community hopes the government will help Laal retire with what is his due.