This year will see the renovation of the Swaminarayan Mandir in Karachi, Pakistan, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Naranarayandev Gadi. One of the two lineages established by Shri Swaminarayan, this Gadi (seat of spiritual leadership) is based at the world’s oldest Swaminarayan Mandir in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and is led by Acharya Koshalendraprasadji. Under the Acharya’s leadership, two monks from Ahmedabad are heading to Karachi to commence work. In addition to renovating the Mandir, there are plans to create boarding facilities for girls and female pilgrims. The Mandir was established 147 years ago by the then Acharya of Kalupur, to meet the needs of growing Swaminarayan devotees; many of whom migrated from Gujarat in what was then one of India’s busiest ports. Even today Karachi is Pakistan’s financial centre and its most cosmopolitan city. In its heyday, Karachi’s Mandir was one of the wealthiest in the Swaminarayan sect and its donations funded the building of others across Gujarat.
During the partition, many of its devotees migrated across the new border but this Mandir remained active (one of the few in Pakistan). From the moment it sheltered refugees escaping partition violence in 1947, this Mandir’s importance has grown beyond the Swaminarayan tradition and is now an important cultural and spiritual centre for all Hindus in Pakistan. Today the temple attracts over 300 devotees daily and is managed by donations from local Hindus across Sindh. Some of Pakistan’s largest Navaratri, Holi and Diwali celebrations take place here, and this Mandir is the starting point for the annual pilgrimage to Hingalaj Shakti Peeth (Balochistan). In addition to shrines of different Hindu Devatas, the temple is also home to a Sikh Shrine. Though we hear harrowing stories of persecution of Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan, the story of the Karachi Mandir is one of Hindu resilience, strength and hope.
Image Credits: Desi Thug on X