Know Pakistan's biggest Hindu shrine, Katasaraj temple

New Delhi: There are many Hindu temples in Pakistan even today. Lord Shiva's Katasaraj Temple is the biggest Hindu temple of Pakistan. Hindus have a lot of faith in this shrine.It is located 270 km from Lahore in Chakwal district. The name ‘Katas' is driven from the Sanskrit word ‘Katashel' meaning ‘Raining Eyes'.The temple complex was not abandoned by Hindus when they migrated to India's Punjab in 1947.It has always been the site of holy pilgrimage for people of various faiths.Even nowadays, worshippers of all faiths perform pilgrimage to the temple.The smaller temples, built in pairs around the larger central temple. These temples are spread across uneven slopes within walkable distances in an area that appears to be a valley. Almost all of them are connected to each other by curvy paths and stairs teetering through highlands.For decades the temple complex was in bad state. It was renovated by Pakistan in 2006-07 .The budget allocated for the project was Rs. 51.06 million. Many legends are associated with this temple.It is believed that the temple has existed before the days of Mahabharata and Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile here. This temple has a lake. People say that whoever takes bath in this lake he/she gets rid of all sins.Many stories are told about the depth and the origin of this lake. However, popular tradition narrates that this lake sprang as one of Lord Shiva's teardrops fell in Katas after he wept over his beloved wife's death. Another teardrop fell in ‘Ajmer' Rajasthan or ‘Nainital' in Uttarakhand, India, as per different traditions, creating similar lakes. Devotees enter this pond by going through a tunnel on the back side of one of the structures built on a higher slop. The tunnel leads to a hall. One then takes a staircase leading to a few feet long and less than two feet wide rectangular cavity in the floor full of pond water. Diving in the pond has now been banned owing to a few misadventures. They were caused by the presence of wild weed inside the pond that held individuals down causing them to drown.The administrators taking preventive measures have planted fish inside the pond that keep nibbling on this weed to avoid any future incidences.The best time to visit here is February or April as that is when the ‘Shivratri festival' is held due to administrative reason.