Shri Varun Dev Mandir, Karachi

Shri Varun Dev Mandir is a Hindu temple located in Manora Island in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The temple is devoted to Varuna, the god of the oceans in Hindu mythology. The exact year of the temple's construction or foundation is not known (it may be thousands of years old) but it is widely believed that the current structure was built in around 1917–18. Today, the temple is in a dilapidated state as humid winds are eating into the structure and the rich carvings on the walls of the temple are slowly eroding. At present, the building is not used for worship and the last ritual was held in the 1950s.

Currently, This temple belongs to the Hindu Council of Pakistan. According to a legend, it was around 16th century when a wealthy sailor by the name of Bhojomal Nancy Bhattia bought Manora Island from the Khan of Kalat, who owned most of the land along the coastline at that time and then his family commissioned a temple on the lay terrain.

"Manora Beach, Karachi, Pakistan" by Faisal Saeed. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi

Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Karachi
"Karachi Mandir" by AroundTheGlobe via Wikipedia. 

The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi is a Hindu temple that belongs to the NarNarayan Dev Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and is the only Swaminarayan temple in Pakistan. The temple is notable for its size and frontage, over 32,306 square yards (27,012 m²) on the M. A. Jinnah Road in Karachi city. The temple celebrated its anniversary of 150 years in April 2004. It is believed that not only Hindus but also adherents of Islam visit the temple, which adds to its notability. There is a sacred cowshed within the premises of this temple. The temple is located at the centre of a Hindu neighborhood in Karachi. The building that housed a dharmshala (guest house) for visiting devotees has now been converted to the office of the City District Government.

According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, Swaminarayan Jayanti, Ram Navami, Janmastami, Dussehra, Diwali and almost all of the main religious festivals are celebrated by Hindus in this temple.. 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 bhajans 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. The Holi festival celebrations that take place at this temple are the biggest in Karachi.

The temple also doubles as a marriage venue. In 2008, a mass wedding arrangement was made for 20 poor couples.

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Saidpur Temple

Saidpur Temple
"Said Pur Village" by Xubayr Mayo - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Saidpur, apart from other structures of religious significance, boasts a shrine of Rama. Around 1580 AD, Akbar's trusted general Raja Man Singh stopped at Rawalpindi on his way to Kabul. One day, Said Khan took Raja Man Singh to the village for sightseeing. Raja Man Singh liked the village's serene atmosphere and decided to build a temple there. At that time there was a large Hindu population inhabiting the village. The general was fond of architecture and had built a number of temples in the Potohar area of Punjab. A haveli which he ordered at Rohtas Fort was said to be remarkable for its elegance.

In order to commemorate his visit to the village, Man Singh expressed his wish before Said Khan of erecting a temple, which Khan readily accepted. Man Singh willingly agreed on meeting all the expenses of the construction and its subsidiaries that included a two-roomed dharmshala (hostel or inn) and four ponds namely Ram Kund, Lakshman Kund, Sita Kund and Hanuman Kund, all named after the famous characters of the Ramayana epic.

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