For the 3rd time since partition, Pakistani Hindus bring 400 urns to India for final rites in Ganga at Haridwar

For the third time since the Partition, a group of Pakistani Hindus has arrived in India, carrying nearly 400 urns containing the ashes of deceased Hindus. Their ultimate wish is to immerse these ashes in the sacred waters of the Ganga in Haridwar, fulfilling the long-standing desire of many Hindus in Pakistan.

Many Pakistani Hindus wish for their ashes to be immersed in the holy river after death. When direct immersion is not possible, their families ensure that the ashes are preserved in urns at temples. Once a significant number of urns are accumulated, efforts are made to secure visas for India to perform the final rites according to Hindu traditions.

This time, the group has been granted visas to visit Lucknow and Haridwar, where they will complete the immersion ritual at Sitaghat in Kankhal on February 22. Before the immersion, the urns will be kept at Nigam Bodh Ghat in Delhi from February 4 to 21, allowing people to pay their respects. On the final day, a ceremonial offering of 100 kg of milk will accompany the immersion, following Vedic traditions.

However, the group is still awaiting a visa extension to visit Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh, where they hope to take a holy dip, a long-cherished dream for many Pakistani Hindus.

This marks the third instance of Pakistani Hindus bringing urns to India for immersion since 1947. Similar visits occurred in 2011 and 2016, when Hindu groups arrived with 135 and 160 urns, respectively.