Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi

Infobox Mandir

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caption= The Shikhar of the Swaminarayan Temple in Karachi
creator =
date_built = Year 1849
primary_deity = Narnarayan Dev and Lord Swaminarayan
location = Karachi

The Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi (Devnagari: श्री स्वमिनरयन मन्दिर, कराची) is a Hindu temple that belongs to the NarNarayan Dev Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and is the only Swaminarayan temple in Pakistan. [cite web| url=http://www.swaminarayan.info/Mandirs/mandirdetails.asp?MandirID=121| title= Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Karachi] The temple is notable for its size and frontage, over convert|32306|sqyd|m2 on the Bunder road in Karachi city.Cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/591836.cms | title=Men in Saffron on goodwill tour of Pak] The temple celebrated its anniversary of 150 years in April 2004. It is believed that not only Hindus but also adherents of Islam visit the temple, which adds to its notability. The original images of Lord Swaminarayan were removed and taken to India during the turbulent times of partition. One murti that was originally at this temple is now located in Khan Village, Rajasthan. There is a sacred cowshed within the premises of this temple. [cite web | url= http://www.indianexpress.com/story/17317.html | title= Rare Musharraf gesture: temple visit and talk of unity] The temple became a refugee camp in 1948. [cite web | url= http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/03/14/stories/2004031400190700.htm | title= City on the edge] Only in 1989, for the first time since the period of partition, a group of sadhus from the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad visited the temple. [cite web | url= http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/03/14/stories/2004031400190700.htm | title= City on the edge] Since then, small groups from the Ahmedabad temple pay this temple a visit every few years in a pilgrimage.

Festivals

According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, Swaminarayan Jayanti, Ram Navami, Janmastami, Dussehra, Diwali and almost all of the main religious festivals are celebrated by Hindus in this temple. [cite web | url=http://pakistanhinducouncil.org/temples.asp | title= Temples in Pakistan: Swami Narayan Temple Opposite Kmc M.A Jinnah Road Karachi. ]

Guru Nanak Temple

According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, there is a Guru Nanak temple within the Swaminarayan Temple complex. Here, every Moon Night and for the birthday of Guru Nanak, Baisakhi is celebrated. [cite web | url=http://pakistanhinducouncil.org/temples.asp | title= Temples in Pakistan: Swami Narayan Temple Opposite Kmc M.A Jinnah Road Karachi. ]

Hinglaj Yatra

The Hinglaj yatra starts from the Swaminarayan Temple complex here annually. [cite web | url=http://www.hinglaj.com/index.php?p=history-of-hinglaj-maa | title= History of Hinglaj Maa]

ee also

*Bhagwan Swaminarayan
*Swaminarayan Sampraday

References

External links

* [http://swaminarayan.info The official Swaminarayan Sampraday website]