Sacred ties on hold: Indian devotees may miss Mahashivratri at Pakistan’s Katasraj Shrine

Indian devotees may not get a chance to take part in one of their most eagerly awaited Mahashivratri celebrations at the Katasraj temple complex in the Punjab province of Pakistan this year, as no official pilgrimage has been announced for 2026, according to government and religious authorities. In previous years, devotees from different Indian states had gathered to take part in the ancient temple’s Mahashivratri celebrations, but no such plans have been announced for 2026.

The Katasraj temple, located in the Chakwal district of the Punjab province in Pakistan, is of great religious significance to Hindus. The ancient temple, believed to have been in existence for several centuries, is associated with myths from Hindu mythology and has a holy tank that is considered sacred by devotees. The temple is part of the Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which was signed by India and Pakistan in 1974, and allows citizens of both countries to visit important religious sites in the other country.

According to sources, this year, no “jatha” or group of devotees has been authorized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for the annual Mahashivratri pilgrimage that usually takes place a few days before the festival. Religious bodies such as the Shri Ramayan Pracharini Sabha and the Kendriya Sanatan Dharam Sabha have stated that they have not been informed of any plans and timetables for the pilgrimage, unlike previous years when visas and other details were announced well in advance.

Last year, Pakistan had issued visas to over 100 Indian pilgrims who attended the Mahashivratri festival, coming through the Attari-Wagah border and staying in Lahore before heading to Katasraj. There were also plans to improve facilities for the incoming devotees, and a guest house has been built for Indian devotees after a wait of almost a decade.

However, despite these positive developments, it appears that the prevailing political tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad have also affected the pilgrimage plans for this year. This has been attributed by officials to the adverse effects of unfavourable bilateral relations, with no pilgrimage plan in place. For most Indian Hindus, the prospect of missing the festival at Katasraj is a major letdown, as the annual visit has become an important religious practice for those who cannot make it to other holy sites that are farther away.

Indian devotees have in the past made their way from states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi to attend the Mahashivratri festival at Katasraj.