KARACHI: The three-day festival at Hinglaj Mata in Balochistan, where Hindu devotees from not just Pakistan but all over the world visit to fulfil their religious obligations, is the subject of the well-researched 40-minute documentary Goddess of Hinglaj-51 Shakti Peeth, produced by Rava Documentary Films at Rava Studios, and which was screened at the Arena Cinema here on Friday.

The Hinglaj Sabeeta Temple in Pakistan is stated to be “3.2 million years old” and honours the Hindu Goddess Sati, who has a tragic story. In fact, it is said that this site of Hindu pilgrimage embodies interfaith harmony, as the place has been protected by the Baloch Muslim community for centuries.

Hindu devotees, including Hindu scholars, bhajan singers, politicians, etc, who have also visited here say that they are made to feel “1,000 per cent safe and secure” here by the Muslims who take care of maintaining the historic temple. They thanked the government with a heartfelt “Pakistan Zindabad!”

The film opens to scenes of devotees dancing before their gods and performing puja. You get to know some of the legends about the Hindu deities including the story of Sati who loved Shiva, her husband, who had fallen out of favour with her powerful father. He was insulted which Sati could not tolerate and jumped into raging flames. Her lifeless body was pulled out of the fire by her angry and grieving husband who carried her around everywhere. The universe was disturbed. The other gods could not allow it. They broke her remains into 51 pieces.

Goddess of Hinglaj screened

Where each piece, known to carry a particular power, fell is a site of pilgrimage. Her eyes and upper part of face are said to have landed at Hinglaj. On way to Hinglaj, devotees also visit the mud volcano. It is said that Mata Sati stopped their before taking her life.

About the Hinglaj Sabeeta Temple, Maharaj Gopal Das of the Hinglaj Temple points out in the film that for Hindus the pilgrimage is a sacred journey. It draws hundreds of thousands of devotees every year, who reach there by bus, car and even foot.

Maharaj Gopal Das says that Mata Sati carries great significance for married Hindu women. “Even the sindoor that a married Hindu woman decorates her hair parting with is attributed to Mata Sati.”

He also said that Balochistan was once known as ‘Hingol Desh’.

Rava Documentary Films’ producer Tariq Rafique said that they ventured into documentaries to highlight issues that were not too well-known otherwise.

“The reason for coming up with this particular documentary on this subject was to tell the world how the Hindu community freely carry their religious obligations in Pakistan,” he said.

He added that their other documentaries, include Dancing Girl about Mohenjo-Daro, Iqbal Masih about the young social activist who blew the whistle on bonded labour, etc. are all available on their YouTube channel.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2024