Three-day Hindu celebration: Prayers, weddings, and rites of passage

Yatris from India reach Mirpur Mathelo for 302nd annual celebrations for Shiv Autar Sant Shadha Ram Sahib.


Sarfaraz Memon December 26, 2010

SUKKUR: Fourty-two ‘Yatris’ or Hindu pilgrims from India reached Mirpur Mathelo on Friday afternoon to participate in the 302nd annual celebrations for Shiv Autar Sant Shadha Ram Sahib.

The festival started on Friday evening at Shadhani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Ghotki district.

Dr Bhesham Lal led the group, which included women and children, who travelled on the Awam Express to arrive at the Mirpur Mathelo railway station. Pilgrims continued to drift in for the festival and the Gaddi Nasheen of Shadhani Darbar Sant Yudistar Lal arrived on Friday night.

“The three-day festivities start with ‘Hawan’ [Agni Pooja or fire worship], which is the most important part because it cleanses the soul or ‘aatma’ from evil spirits,” emphasised Shadhani Darbar Dr Mansha Ram. This is followed by the ‘Path Sahib’ programme, which lasts 48 hours when devotees recite Guru Granth, Geeta and the Ramayan.

Another exciting aspect is the mass wedding ceremony, in which this year nine couples tied the knot. The vows were solemnised by Sant Yudistar Lal, who is part of Shiv Autar Sant Sadha Ram Sahib’s eighth generation and is the current Gaddi Nasheen of the Shadhani Darbar.

“The mass wedding programme is meant to help the less fortunate parents who cannot afford to marry off their daughters,” said Sant Yudistar Lal. The girls receive a dowry in the shape of gifts from devotees.

Twenty-two boys will be made Pawatar in the ‘Jariyan’ function which will take place on Sunday, said Mansha Ram. This ceremony is equivalent to a circumcision since boys between the ages of five to 25 sit around a ‘Pawatir Agni’ and will fully enter the Hindu religion after a thread is tied around their neck, he explained.

Dr Mansha also told The Express Tribune about the history of Mathelo Momal ji Mari, where Baba Shadha Ram Sahib came from Lahore nearly 327 years ago. He lived here for two or three years and then moved to Hayat Pitafi.

The celebrations will continue until Sunday evening, after which the pilgrims will continue their journey and visit places including, Mathelo Momal ji Mari, Khanpur Mahar, Ghotki, Sukkur, Daharki and Mirpur Mathelo before returning to Lahore on January 1.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2010.

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