Hinglaj Mata Temple, Balochistan – History

Hinglaj Mata Temple, Balochistan – History

Hinglaj Mata Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of the Hindu goddess Sati. The exact history of this shrine is not known. This Shrine is held in reverence from ancient times dating back to Ramayana and Mahabharata times.

Hinglaj Sheva Mandali:

The Hinglaj Sheva Mandali (HSM) is the temple committee established to promote an annual pilgrimage to the shrine. It was created on January 5, 1986 and continues to be the main organization serving the Hinglaj Mata temple and its pilgrims.

Kidnapping of Temple Committee Chairman:

The chairman of the temple committee was kidnapped two days before the annual Hinglaj Yatra in 2012 by suspected Islamists. He was kept in captivity for 73 days and later released. The Pakistan Hindu Council strongly criticised that his kidnapping was to warn the Hindus residing in Pakistan.

Dam Construction:

In 2008, Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDA) proposed a plan to build a dam in the Hingol River close to the shrine. The dam would have flooded the accommodation roads to the temple and endangered the locality and its associated festivals. Following protest from the Hindu community the dam proposal was abandoned by the Balochistan Assembly. So, the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDS) initially suggested relocating three holy places to a higher elevation and guaranteed the construction of a new access road. This proposition was rejected by the Hinglaj Sheva Mandali(HSM), which argued that these sites were not like common temples and could not simply be relocated.

In 2008, the lawmakers in the Balochistan Assembly reacted to the concerns and protests of the Hindu community and asked the federal government to stop the project. In 2009, after a year of suspension, the WAPDA chose to continue with the controversial Hingol Dam construction plans but decided to shift the site of the dam a few kilometers north in order to protect the temple. This resolution was in keeping with a consensus between the WAPDA, the Balochistan Assembly, and the Hindu community.