Katas Raj: Indian pilgrims to celebrate Mahashivratri
by Ravinder Singh Robin

          Amritsar: Two hundred Hindu pilgrims left for Pakistan today to celebrate Mahashivratri on February 26 at the Katas Raj temple in Chakwal. Pilgrims were excited to visit Pakistan and urged the government to ease visa restrictions for them. Kuldip Chauhan, a pilgrim said, "It is a group of 200 people. We are happy to get the visa to visit Katas Raj on this occasion. We want the government should ease the visa procedure for us." Some of the devotees wanted to see the historic temple. "According to the Pakistan archaeological department, the temple is 5000 years old. We want the government should take initiative to preserve such historical shrines. As we have Muslim and Sikh organisations to protect their shrines in India, there should be a Hindu group to protect temples in Pakistan," said Ramesh Kumar, a pilgrim. Earlier, a group of more than hundred devotees also left for Pakistan on Wednesday to celebrate Mahashivratri.
- Feb 24, 2006

Sikhs happy over pilgrimage to Pak shrines
by Ravinder Singh Robin

         Amritsar: Sikh pilgrims from India who visited their shrines in Pakistan are satisfied over the pilgrimage. Swaran Singh, the acting president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (PSGPC), said, "Indian Sikhs are happy over fulfilment of their ardas of khulae darshan deedar of Gurdwaras of Pakistan, now it was the turn of Pakistani Sikhs who were also looking forward for the fulfilment of their part of ardas of darshan deedar and ishnan at Sri Harmander Sahib and for that purpose Indian government should unconditionally grant visa's to Sikhs of Pakistan," he said.

         Singh, who was appointed the acting president of the PSGPC on January 5 by Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board following the removal of his predecessor, Mastan Singh, said that he was on a private visit to Amritsar. He said that he would be visiting his relatives in Delhi and pay obeisance at Sri Harmander Sahib. Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar along with SGPC members Rajinder Singh Mehta and Jaswinder Singh Advocate honoured Swaran Singh. Swaran Singh used the occasion to laud the efforts of India and Pakistan for opening of bus route between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib . He also urged the Indian Government to grant visas to Sikhs residing in Pakistan so they could visit their holy places here. He also informed that the PSGPC is preparing for the 400th martyrdom anniversary of Sikh Guru Arjan Dev in Pakistan.
- Feb 2, 2006

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