Sonia sends offerings to ancient Shiva temple in Pak

New Delhi: Even though Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has not been able to campaign for the crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, she has maintained the family tradition of sending religious offerings to the Katasraj Temple in Pakistan. Both Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi sent the offerings on the occasion of Mahashivratri to the temple, which is an ancient site situated almost 270 kms away from Lahore in the district of Chakwal in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

There would be a “Rudrabhishek” or special prayers for the Gandhi family at the temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri as they have been sending these religious tributes to there for several years now. A special delegation comprising five representatives from Haridwar-based Sanatan Dharm Sansthan met the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi to take the offerings to Pakistan on their behalf. The ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and according to Hindu legend, it has been in existence since the days of Mahabharat. The Pandava brothers are said to have spent a substantial part of their exile at the site and later Lord Krishna himself laid the foundation of this temple and subsequently establishing the Shivling in it. The entire complex houses a group of seven ancient temples.

Celebrations of Mahashivratri Pujan, Holy Bath in Shree Amarkund and Deep Mela were being observed at Katasraj Mandir on Friday. Over two hundred Hindu pilgrims from 14 states of India have already reached the Katasraj temple complex to participate in the celebrations