Dear Sir, Very lovely and interesting pictures. I am quite amazed to know that a photographer in Pakistan should find this subject interesting and then find space on your news paper! I quite enjoyed myself! Regards, Rakesh Tiku Noida (Delhi)

I felt sad seeing those pictures...such beautiful temple is in Ruin now, what is the reason for this???

Such beautiful temples in ruins , no maintenance at all. Are not these part of the Pakistan Heritage

It is unfortunate to see such a beautiful place in such a condition. This is the diffefrence between Pakistan and Bharat. In our country we respect every religion and hence I guess it is buch ahead of other nations which were in british rule.

It is saddening to see such a beutiful temple waiting for renovation.hats off to reporter for bringing this to us.

Excuse me, Indians respect other religions? Wasn't a mosque torn down to build a temple. India isn't as great as you think and as the West thinks. Pakistan just gets most of the bad press.

fantastic pictures.... DAWN is great news paper to cover this kind of things thanks you from INDIA

Thanks for bringing cultural heritage of Hindu culture in Pakistan.

beautifull pics ......dawn always shows a different face of pakistan.......

That is why India is such a great country

Complements to DAWN a great English Newspaper of the Subcontinent and pakistan for the harmony between Hindus -Muslims by featuring the cultural heritage sites of the nation.

Sad commentary of overall picture of Pakistan.

Is this in India or Pakistan? Could you please identify the the location of these Mandirs,as I would like to visit them.

dude that mosque was actually built after bringing down a very ancient temple... but, still it was a mob fury , a security failure,, and believe me most Indians regret it.

beautiful...

Great photos of a great tradition kept alive in a hostile country and environment for so long. Hats off to these priceless people.....and to Dawn.

Dear Sir Nice images shows a another picture of Pakistan.its suggestion to Pakistan tourism that renovate such temples and promote the place many Hindus will visit such place and declare these places as your National Heritage as its on your own soil.That will be respect not for the religion but respect to Mr Jinnah who had shown feelings for the minorites in Pakistan. Shilnidhi Tiwari From India

It is good you bring up the babri masjid issue(it is not something as an Indian iam proud of). In the same vein can you please see how many temples in pakistan have been demolished since independence. In India we have a very vibrant minority community armed with strong laws to protect their interest. They are very capable of handling their problems. Unfortunately since independence in pakistan, the minorities have been steadily declining and also there is a lot to be said about the rights of the minorities in Pakistan. Thanks to Dawn for publishing this article.

What is Shiva Lingam ?

Dawn is unique in displaying culture of the Indian subcontinent.Pakistan has dimmed the vision of secular Jinnah.Hindus will contibute in millions of dollars to restore these great monuments in ruins.Thousands of Pakistanis will get employment provided Pakistani leaders do not pocket the money. Rajni Shah Beckley,WV USA

I apreeciate DAWN's secular mindset, rather a broad mindset that they are not bias like some of the Indo-Pak media. Previously also I saw news about being one of the colorful tribals in khyber pakhtunwala range in Pakistan being forcibly converted to Islam by extremists. These all different forms and religions make up the essence of human life and we need to be more accepting and appreciative of every religion and every human being's freedom of choice. Good Work Dawn, keep it up.

Thank you Hanuman :) Memon for beautiful pictures.

Dear sir, It is joy to see that dawn cared about the first festival of this calender year for hindus. well, still I have not seen any news paper in India publishing in advance of maha-shivarathri, they dont do also.. thanks for the gasture. In line with the same, why cannot Pakistan Govt, enable these temples to be brought back to their original glory., we from India and across the world are ready to restructure this great monuments, this helps in bringing many tourist to pakistan during festive seasons. secondly, the awam of pakistan once used to be part of this sub-continent's great culture and heritage in due course of time you have picked of the path of the Islam, that doesn't mean that you are alianated from your own heritage / culture you still remain as part of the great civilization. I am sure no true pakistani dis-own it. I request pakistan awam to respect your heritage and allow your neibours to restructure this great temple along with Hingalamba temple in Baluchistan.. the vert truth is your blood contains the DNA of my Blood not that of Arab/turks .... so lets our DNA speak brothership not the religion. Hope Pakistan awam understand this Rgds Vishwanath.G

It is a great gesture of "DAWN". Could this be a prelude to new a era in our sub continent. Let us celebrate festivals of each other. My hats off to the news paper "DAWN"

Hi Faiz, Although I am not an expert, I will attempt to explain. The Hindu faith is an evolving philosophical journey. The most primitive views of man's conception of the world and nature survive and are assimilated in to and overlaid with more sublime interpretations. It offers believers a cafeteria of approaches from which they can choose as it suits their emotional and intellectual level. The original ideas are based on a male and female principle called Purusha or the primeval spirit and Prakriti or nature. Shiva Lingam is a representation of Purusha as a male sexual organ. However this is worshipped as a symbol of the primeval spirit (identified with Shiva or the Supreme Being) and not literally as a phallus. To others who might read this, please, I do not want to get into any arguments !

Dear Sir, I am really surprised and happy to note the coverage of a Hindu event in your newspaper. In India, Hindus and Muslims are real friends and only some politicians play spoil sports. I am 71 yrs. old and during my shcool days, I had equal number of muslim friends like hindu friends. Both our countries should sit and sort out all the problems including Kashmir. After all we are brothers and in U.K. Indians and Pakistanis are real friends and there is no difference amongst us. S.Sundararajan from St.Helens, Merseyside, U.K.

Shiva is called Mahadev ,On the festival of Maha Shivaratri, devotees observe fast. Devotees do not even drink water for 24 hrs. (Sunrise -to sunrise) unlike other Hindu fasts where they eat fruits and/or milk or juices.

Quite amazed to see beautiful & ancient Hindu temples in Pakistan. Hats off!! to the locals to keep the tradition of Mahashivratri still alive. Appreciate Dawn to showcase the Hindu Heritage by publishing the snaps. I was wondering if you could share the address of these temples, I might be interested to pay a visit. Apart from that, I will truly appreciate if you could do something for Indians to connect to their ancestor’s roots in present Pakistan. Cheers, Ashish

I am a REGULAR reader of the online DAWN. I must say DAWN has a SECULAR outlook. Congratulations to all at DAWN. KEEP IT UP.

Dear Bose, I totally agree with you. That it is.