imported>Marcocapelle: /* External links */removed grandparent category of Category:Hindu temples in Karachi

2021-07-06T19:34:49Z

External links: removed grandparent category of Category:Hindu temples in Karachi

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{{short description|Hindu temple in Karachi, Pakistan}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Shri Swaminarayan Mandir<br>{{nq|سوامی نارائن مندر}}
| image = File:SWAMI NARAYAN TEMPLE HADDID UDDIN - panoramio - Haddid Uddin (1).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Swaminarayan Mandir
| map_type = Karachi
| map_caption = Location within Karachi
| coordinates = {{coord|24|51|15.7|N|67|00|28.7|E|type:landmark_region:PK|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = śrī svāmīnārāyaṇ mandir
| country = {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]]
| district = [[Karachi]]
| state = [[Sindh (Pakistan)|Sindh]]
| locale = [[M. A. Jinnah Road]], [[Karachi]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Nara Narayana]] and [[Swaminarayan]]
| festivals =
| architecture = [[Hindu temple architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 1788
| creator =
| website =
}}

The '''Shri [[Swaminarayan Mandir]], [[Karachi]]''' ({{lang-ur|{{nastaliq|شری سوامی نارائن مندر}}}}) is a [[Hindu temple]] that is the only [[Swaminarayan temple]] in [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.swaminarayan.info/Mandirs/mandirdetails.asp?MandirID=121| title= Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Karachi}}</ref> The temple is notable for its size and frontage, over {{convert|32306|sqyd|m2}} on the [[M. A. Jinnah Road]] in [[Karachi]] city.<ref name = "ref2">{{cite news|title=Men in Saffron on goodwill tour of Pak |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-03-30/ahmedabad/28347578_1_morari-bapu-karachi-ram-katha|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121023165810/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-03-30/ahmedabad/28347578_1_morari-bapu-karachi-ram-katha|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2012-10-23|date= 2004-03-30|work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2009-04-10}}</ref> The temple celebrated its anniversary of 216 years in April 2004.<ref name="ref2" /> It is believed that not only [[Hinduism|Hindus]] but also adherents of [[Muslim|Islam]] visit the temple, which adds to its notability.<ref name="ref2" /> There is a sacred cowshed within the premises of this temple.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.indianexpress.com/story/17317.html | title= Rare Musharraf gesture: temple visit and talk of unity}}</ref> The temple is located at the centre of a Hindu neighbourhood in [[Karachi]].<ref name = "TN">{{cite news|title=Minorities in Pakistan lack options – and hope |url= http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090819/FOREIGN/708189904/1103/SPORT|publisher=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]]|date= 2009-08-19|access-date=2009-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Rocking Karachi |url= https://www.forbes.com/2009/09/02/karachi-culture-rock-literature-opinions-21-century-cities-09-hm-naqvi.html|date= 2 September 2009|work= H.M. Naqvi|publisher= Forbes|access-date=5 September 2009}}</ref> The building that housed a ''dharmshala'' (guest house) for visiting devotees has now been converted to the office of the City District Government.<ref name="DT">{{cite news|title=Dilapidated old building haunts CDGK employees |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\04\28\story_28-4-2008_pg7_53 |publisher=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]] |date=2008-04-28 |access-date=2009-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502170655/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C04%5C28%5Cstory_28-4-2008_pg7_53 |archive-date=May 2, 2008 }}</ref>

==Independence of Pakistan and India and after==
[[File:Karachi Mandir.jpg |thumb|right|The Shikhar of the Swaminarayan Temple in Karachi]]
The temple became a refugee camp in 1947.<ref name="City on the edge">{{cite web | url= http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/03/14/stories/2004031400190700.htm | title= City on the edge}}</ref> The original images of Swaminarayan were removed and taken to [[India]] during the turbulent times of [[Partition of India|independence]].<ref name="ref2"/> One [[murti]] that was originally at this temple is now located in Khan Village, [[Rajasthan]].<ref name="ref2"/> People who wished to settle in India from all over [[Sindh]] awaited their departure to India by ship at this temple. The temple was visited by [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], the founder of [[Pakistan]] during this period.<ref name="isbn0231138466">{{cite book | author= Vazira Fazila-Yacoobali Zamindar | title=The long partition and the making of modern South Asia | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2007 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EfhqQLr96VgC | isbn=9780231138468 |access-date=May 22, 2009}} Page 52</ref> In 1989, for the first time since the independence in 1947, a group of [[sadhu]]s from the [[Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad]] visited the temple.<ref name="City on the edge"/> Since then, small groups from the [[Ahmedabad]] temple pay this temple a visit every few years in a pilgrimage.

==Festivals and events==
According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, [[Swaminarayan Jayanti]], [[Ram Navami]], [[Janmastami]], [[Vijayadashami|Dussehra]], [[Diwali]] and almost all of the main religious festivals are celebrated by Hindus in this temple.<ref name="pakistanhinducouncil.org">{{cite web | url=http://pakistanhinducouncil.org/temples.asp | title=Temples in Pakistan: Swami Narayan Temple Opposite Kmc M.A Jinnah Road Karachi. | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815034006/http://pakistanhinducouncil.org/temples.asp | archive-date=2012-08-15 }}</ref> [[Holi]] is celebrated with the holi bonfire lit at the centre of the temple grounds, followed by the play with colours. Janmashtami is celebrated with singing [[bhajan]]s and sermons on [[Krishna]], while on [[Diwali]], devotees light lamps and candles to welcome [[Rama]] from his fourteen-year exile, at the end of which he defeated [[Ravana]] and young men burst crackers at the temple on the occasion.<ref name = "TC">{{cite news|title=Pak Hindu community celebrates Holi in Karachi |url=http://newsagency.thecheers.org/World-news/news_16983_Pak-Hindu-community-celebrates-Holi-in-Karachi.html|publisher=The Cheers Magazine|date= 2008-03-23|access-date=2009-12-19}}</ref><ref name = "Dawn">{{cite news|title=KARACHI: Janamashtami festival celebrated |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/karachi-janamashtami-festival-celebrated-589 |publisher=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|date= 2009-08-15|access-date=2009-12-19}}</ref><ref name = "GP">{{cite news|title=Karachi: A place for all souls |url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/pakistan/091105/diwali-all-souls-karachi-pakistan-partition|publisher=[[globalpost.com]]|date= 2009-11-07|access-date=2009-12-19}}</ref> The [[Holi]] festival celebrations that take place at this temple are the biggest in Karachi.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hindus in Pakistan set to celebrate Holi|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=423075&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23|access-date=21 March 2011|newspaper=[[Gulf Times]]|date=20 March 2011}}</ref>

The temple also doubles as a marriage venue. In 2008, a mass wedding arrangement was made for 20 poor couples.<ref name="DTP">{{cite news|title=Swami Narayan Temple – Eternal bliss |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\02\story_2-11-2008_pg12_10 |publisher=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]] |date=2008-11-02 |access-date=2009-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223010344/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C11%5C02%5Cstory_2-11-2008_pg12_10 |archive-date=February 23, 2011 }}</ref>

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

==Gurdwara==
In the Swaminarayan Mandir complex in [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], [[Pakistan]] where a small [[Hindu]] community lives, a [[Gurdwara]] has been created for the small [[Sikh]] community.

The Gurdwara Sahib houses three sets of Sri [[Guru Granth Sahib]] Ji in the Palki Sahib. There are pictures of the Gurus and a small shrine devoted to [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]]. There is a Hindu bell in the Gurdwara Sahib as well.

The whole compound is protected by a security guard to protect the small number of Hindu families.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Karachi Gurdwara IMG 7778.JPG|Interior of Gurdwara in Swami Narain Mandir Complex, Karachi
File:Karachi Gurdwara IMG 7779.JPG|Exterior of Gurdwara in Swami Narain Mandir Complex, Karachi
File:Karachi Gurdwara IMG 7780.JPG|Exterior of Gurdwara in Swami Narain Mandir Complex, Karachi
File:Karachi Temple Gurdwara IMG 7781.JPG|Exterior of Gurdwara in Swami Narain Mandir Complex, Karachi
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Hinduism|Pakistan}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Hinduism in Pakistan]]
*[[Swaminarayan]]
*[[Swaminarayan Sampraday]]
*[[Shri Varun Dev Mandir]]
* [[Evacuee Trust Property Board]]
* [[Pakistan Hindu Council]]
* [[Hinglaj Mata]]
* [[Kalat Kali Temple]]
* [[Katasraj temple]]
* [[Multan Sun Temple]]
* [[Prahladpuri Temple, Multan]]
* [[Sadh Belo]]
* [[Shivaharkaray]]
* [[Shiv Mandir, Umerkot]]
* [[Tilla Jogian]]
{{col div end}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi}}
*[http://swaminarayan.info The official Swaminarayan Sampraday website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEor2LFju0U YouTube: Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Karachi]

{{Swaminarayan Sampraday}}
{{Hindu temples in Pakistan}}
{{Cultural heritage sites in Sindh |state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1849]]
[[Category:Swaminarayan Sampradaya]]
[[Category:Gurdwaras in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Karachi]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Heritage sites in Karachi]]

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi - Revision history

imported>Marcocapelle: /* External links */removed grandparent category of Category:Hindu temples in Karachi