Karachi, Jan 12 (ANI): A 65-year old Hindu temple in Karachi is in a horrendous condition in the absence of proper maintenance and renovation work by the Sindh Government.
Laxmi Narain Hanuman Mandir, located on the edge of the Arabian Sea under the Native Jetty Bridge, is suffering from oil pollution that flows from the Karachi port.
Bhani, an elderly caretaker of the temple said that for several years no repair work has been done on the temple, and the worsening sanitation has made the situation far worse. She stated that sometimes the smell of garbage disturbs worship.
As there is no proper sanitary system, when there is a low tide, huge heaps of garbage, polyethylene bags and earthen pots can be seen near the temple stairs and it is in this water that Hindus immerse themselves during their routine rituals, the Daily Times reported.
These dumps of garbage not only attract kites, crows and other birds, but also stray dogs that are often seen wandering in and out of the temple. On several occasions, kites have attacked people who come to visit the temple.
The temple's history reveals that in the early 1940's the British Government allocated a large piece of land on the edge of the Arabian Sea to the local Hindus so that they could establish two separate Ghats (bathing place), one for Hindu men and the other for Hindu women, the report says.
As the temple is near the edge of the sea, it is unique and different from other temples located in the province. The constant availability of water makes the temple an important and practical place of worship for Hindus, the report adds.
Hindu organisation representatives argue that the reason behind there being no action taken to improve the temple is that the temple belongs to a low caste of Hindus. Around 90 percent of the Hindu population of Sindh is classified to be in the low caste of Hindus. (ANI)
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