Attari, April 21
The 226-member Hindu jatha from Pakistan led by Dr Shankar Lal arrived at the Attari railway station here today after a gap of eight years. The jatha, which included 40 women and 25 children, is here on a month’s visit to various cities and towns of historical and religious importance in India, including Shadani Darbar, Raipur.

The pilgrims demanded that the peace process started by both the countries should continue so that they were able to visit their religious places and relatives every year as per the agreement signed by both the countries. Earlier, the Hindu jatha had visited India in 1997.

The Hindu jatha was received by Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, president of the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena.

However, they remained tight-lipped when asked about the treatment meted out to the minority communities by the Muslim fundamentalists in Pakistan.

From the Attari railway station the jatha plans to leave for Raipur where they will have darshan of their guru, Shri Yudshister Lal Ji. They will then proceed to Amravati Shadhani Darbar Temple on April 30. After three days’ stay the jatha will visit Shadhani Darbar in Jalgaon. Thereafter, they will travel to Mumbai to visit Mata Momba Devi Mandir on May 4.

The jatha members will further proceed according to a pre-drawn schedule. They will visit Swami Narayan Temple in Ahmedabad. Apart from this, they will visit historical temples in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and the famous Sri Krishan Temple in Nathwara on May 9 before proceeding to pay obeisance at the temples of Jaipur and Birla Mandir there. In addition to the Krishna Bhoomi temple in Uttar Pradesh, the jatha will pay their respects at Vrindavan, Gokul and Mathura on May 12-13.