Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his message for humanity

The Hallow Around This Face Enlightens

The Whole World of Sikhism

Love God. Love God in man. Sing love of God

by Nayyar Hashmey

Next week the 539th birthday celebrations of the founder of the Sikh religion, Baba Guru Nanak will start with a deep devotion and fervor in different parts of Punjab, Pakistan.Members of the Sikh community from around the globe will attend the five days religious ritual with great enthusiasm and pay homage to the great Sufi poet of Punjab, who changed the lives of millions of people through his message of love, peace, and devotion to God, tranquility and equality for the mankind.

Every year in November, the authorities in Pakistan make special arrangements for the occasion to provide transport and lodgings for thousands of guests from abroad. Pakistan Railways induct special train schedules for Indian Sikhs to attend the celebrations on Pakistani side of the Punjab and then return home safely. PIA, the national airline carrier also flies special flights from various destinations to Lahore for devotees from all over the world.

EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH POWER OF YOUR HISTORY - TASTE THE REAL ESSENCE OF HISTORICAL PLACES

                                                                                                              

A View of the Enterance to Dai Anga's Tomb in Lahore

Have you ever been to Dai Anga’s mausoleum, in case of Yes or No, here we reveal the essence of this historic place, which we call the “History” should be our present, for those whose answer is “No”, have the chance to visit this marvelous piece of architecture and art of our forefathers, its beauty of art is about to end.

This is a monument which gives us a spur to build an incredible future like our marvelous and glorious past. When the sun unveils the day, the horizontal directional rays expose the real texture and art work of this square brick structure built on a raised platform with a large dome and four square pavilion like kiosks carrying projecting eaves and cupolas.

This is the perfect season to enjoy and understand the real ornamental and symmetrical beauty of the tomb; the fresh morning cool air gives you a rhythmic pleasant breath, which will allow you to properly concentrate on the nature of tomb and its art work. After few moments you’ll understand the splendid, magnificent and regality living of our subcontinent’s Muslim emperors.

As the sun rises gradually this worthy tomb, it’s top borders of the walls (parapet) having “Kashi Kari” (the mosaic) on it, which points towards the quality and kind of tile mosaic that in all likelihood once covered the entire façade and all this show you the love, respect and care for our loved ones. As being the Dai (Wet Nurse) of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, she deserves this honor. You can easily understand her importance as a Dai, as our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) respects his Dai Haleema R.A.

At noon when the sun is at its full glory and its peak, this fully lighted worthy memorial mausoleum describes our generation the real height and boom of our powerful Muslim rulers in this continent. This is the perfect time when the warmth of sun rays increasing the temperature of the surrounding to give us the grandeur feeling of the respect and dignity that we had. Now is the time to let you imagine and float with the feelings that you are in the past and part of that era.

Now it’s the evening after illuminating the whole day of more than 400 years of Mughals’ the sun started setting, and the tomb shows the damages by the Singh and the Englishman.

Sun is setting now, you can hear the sound of birds chirping, birds, those who lived the whole day out from their nests in search of food, just came back their homes awaited by their children, this calm and peaceful atmosphere is available on the roof of the tomb which make you realize that you also have someone who needs your care and love. At this time looking through the arc one of the kiosks towards the red sun it will knock on our minds that we are missing something, we are losing something, where is our glory?

Photo Credits: On top: Genral View of the Tomb and on right: The Tombstone, by Sajjad Butt. On botom left, taken from a website but url could not be located.

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Katas, A Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained!

Katas Raj

Ketaksha’s past is a Paradise lost

Where Shiva met

His love at last…

by Nayyar Hashmey

A bouquet of colorful, divine celebrations is presented every year to Hindu gods in Pakistan’s valley of Adam and Eve. Located at a distance of 25 Km from Kalar Kahar is this serene and paradise-like abode of gods, where Maha Shivratri, the festival of Shiva is celebrated every year.

The festival falls on the 15th day of Phalgun (the day of Amavas) and is an event full of fervor and festivities. Pilgrims from all parts of India come over this place to pay homage to the Hindu god Shiva.

The area is home to Hinduism’s holiest shrines in the subcontinent. It’s here that Shiva entered into a nuptial bond. The yatris celebrate the day by offering pooja, the ritual dances and sing bhajans, all a part of Maha Shiv’s wedding celebrations. This month WOP goes down the history lane to commemorate the wedding in this place of gods where Pandava brothers spent a part of their exile in Katas, some like Lord Shiva triumphed over the evil world of Dakhsha and left an eternal message to the world that truth and nothing but truth always prevails….Ram Nam Sat Hae....
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School children in Pakistan generally know about the hilly Salt Range. They learn that its home to world’s oldest and largest rock salt mines. Every Sunday, groups of students visit the mines and gaze in wonder and awe at the fascinating spectacle of light filtering though the solid walls of salt, with the gentle sound of river Jhelum in the background. In contrast what they don’t know that the Salt Range which has recently come to the fore, is home also to the treasures of ancient culture and history. That it boasted to have many thousands of years BCE, the knowledge of science, arts, religion and philosophy which in its contemporary world no body could claim to have one.

The Salt Range is now at the centre of new discoveries in archeology and ancient architecture. Its importance spans thousands of years, judging from skeletal remains of prehistoric animal found in many of its out-of-the-way locations. Even though these archaeological remains have not yet been dated by experts, they probably go back to three or four millennia, and along with prehistoric bones discovered at Mehrgarh in Balochistan, can provide many missing links in the ancient history of the

Besides sculptures unearthed by the Department of Archeology dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries, the Salt Range is dotted with divine structures, of which the most notable is the Katas Raj, located 25 kilometers from Chakwal.

Katas is notable in many ways. Associated with the temple are many legends sacred to the Hindu faith. Some of them involve Shiv Devta himself. The site has always been a place of holy pilgrimage. Even nowadays, through an agreement between India and Pakistan, in early spring worshippers from India and from the interior of Sindh perform pilgrimage to the temple and bathe in the sacred pool around which Katas Raj is built.

While Katas has not received the publicity that it deserves, the two semi-ruined temples of the Hindshahi period (650-950 AD) have been frequently photographed by newspapers and history journals. The remains are beautifully carved and conform to the best in temple architecture.