Pilgrimage to Balochistan’s Hinglaj Temple

[Dance]

Every year thousands of Hindus from Pakistan and India gather to attend a four-day ritual at the Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan. The temple is situated on the Makran coast in the Lyari district of Balochistan. Hindus believe that the head of goddess Sati had fallen in the area of Hinglaj Mata and since then, it has remained a revered pilgrimage site for Hindus. –Reuters Photos

Devotees wait outside the Shri Swaminarayan Mandi Temple in Karachi while awaiting transport to pay homage to the Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan.

A devotee is dabbed with sacred volcano mud as a spot on his forehead.

Devotees push a vehicle stranded in desert while visiting Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple.

A devotee walks on the surface of a mud volcano to perform a ritual offering of coconuts.

Devotees climb a mud volcano to perform a ritual.

Devotees walk on a mud volcano to perform a ritual offering of coconuts.

A devotee prays inside the Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple.

Devotees dance to drum beats to praise Shri Hinglaj Mata.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/25/pilgrimage-to-balochistan-hinglaj-mata-temple.html?pid=19269

 

[Dance]

A devotee is pictured outside the Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple.

A devotee showers rose petals while praying inside the temple.

Devotees carry dry mud collected from a mud volcano, which is sacred to them.

A devotee receives blessings in front of the deity at the Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple.

Devotees dance to drum beats.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/25/pilgrimage-to-balochistan-hinglaj-mata-temple.html?pid=19269

 

[Dance]

Never knew Pakistan had so many holy sites for Sikhs and Hindus!

 

[metro]

Never knew Pakistan had so many holy sites for Sikhs and Hindus!

Its because at one place in time, this whole area was hindu/buddhist/sikh area.

BTW Thanks for the pictures.

 

[aks18]

Its because at one place in time, this whole area was hindu/buddhist/sikh area.

BTW Thanks for the pictures.

but now muslim dominated area.

 

[Jackdaws]

The Aghoris consider Hinglaj Mata their main deity - I wonder if those in the picture are mostly Aghoris.

 

[metro]

The Aghoris consider Hinglaj Mata their main deity - I wonder if those in the picture are mostly Aghoris.

No. they dont look like aghoris to me. They resemble more like our rajasthani tribes wearing bangles upto shoulders.
You can even see photo of shera-wali mata there, surely aghoris dont worship her in that form.

 

[Areesh]

The Aghoris consider Hinglaj Mata their main deity - I wonder if those in the picture are mostly Aghoris.

Who are aghoris???

 

[desioptimist]

The Aghoris consider Hinglaj Mata their main deity - I wonder if those in the picture are mostly Aghoris.

Aghoris are those who eat human flesh, right? I dont think we have many of them left in India. They died of hunger I guess.

 

[waz]

Sure takes a great deal of devotion to walk up that volcano. Great pictures, very proud of our community.

 

[MastanKhan]

Never knew Pakistan had so many holy sites for Sikhs and Hindus!

Hi,

Take a trip to 'sadh bela' or sadhu bela---the island right next to sukkur in the river indus----

 

[jha]

Aghoris are those who eat human flesh, right? I dont think we have many of them left in India. They died of hunger I guess.

Where did you learn this..?

 

[paritosh]

Where did you learn this..?

dont you know about aghoris?
go visit a big shamshan ghat after 12 in the night...you'd find sadhu like people wearing all black with ash in their hair and over thie flesh...they literarily pull bodies out of the funeral pyre and eat human meat with alcohol...
disgusting stuff...they are supposed to be kali worshippers and people you'd never want to come across...feared.

 

[Manas]

Aghoris are those who eat human flesh, right? I dont think we have many of them left in India. They died of hunger I guess.

I see you are not only misinformed but have strong dislike about Hindu religion. I can make guess why .

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

are the people in these pictures foreigners? None of them look Baloch to me