Pakistan welcomes Hindu pilgrims from India, to visit Shadani mela at Shadhani Temple in Sindh

On Sunday, a group of over 100 Hindu Indian pilgrims arrived in Lahore to take part in Shadani mela at Shadhani Temple located in the Sindh province of Pakistan.

Evacuee Trust Property Board's chairman Siddiqul Farooq and other officials greeted the pilgrims at the Wagah Border, board's spokesman Amir Hashmi told PTI.

"Some 104 Hindus arrived here by train to participate in annual festivities in connection with Shadani mela (festival) at Shadhani Temple in Hayat Pitafi, Mirpur Mathelo, Sindh," Hashmi said.

During their 10-day stay, the pilgrims will also visit Sadhu Mandar in Sukkur, Ghotki, Kanpur in Sindh.

The main event of the festival will be held on November 25 in which the local Hindus will also participate, Hashmi said, adding that the visiting Hindus will return to India on November 28. Farooq reiterated that the people of Pakistan and India want peace between the two countries.

"The two South Asian countries should address outstanding issues between them through dialogue," he said.

"We have brought a message of peace, love, and harmony from India. We want both the governments to resolve the issues through peaceful dialogue," said Yogester Lal, the head of the delegation.

Earlier this month, more than 2,000 Sikh pilgrims attended the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, at his birthplace in Nankana Sahib in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

(With PTI inputs)