SUKKUR, June 7 A three-day colourful event began on Sunday at Sadh Belo Temple on an island of River Indus, to mark the 146th death anniversary of renowned Hindu saint Baba Bankhandi Maharaj.
Thousands of devotees from Pakistan, India and other countries, are attending the event.
Nine devotees, including five women from abroad, fainted due to sweltering heat and protracted loadshedding by Hesco on Sunday.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was scheduled to attend the anniversary, but he had to cancel the visit due to the situation of Karachi.
Eshwar Lal Mukhi of the Sukkur Hindu Panchayat and other leaders of the community told Dawn that they had requested the Hesco authorities in advance for ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the temple and they had assured them of cooperation during the three days.
But power went off immediately after the celebrations started before noon on Sunday.
They said the Hesco authorities had also promised to provide a heavy-duty generator in case of loadshedding and to depute an SDO, but they had not fulfilled their promise.
The festival will continue till June 9.
Baba Bankhandi Maharaj also called Das Basanti Baal Brhamchari, had arrived in Sadh Belo about 200 years ago and remained immersed in worship here till his death.
A big temple was constructed at this place about 150 years ago, in which old marble stone was used.On all the three days, the pilgrims start their proceedings with 'Geeta Path' in the morning, followed by recitation of 'Guru Granth'.
Handicraft traders have set up their stalls to exhibit classical handwork of men and women of Pakistan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Federal Labour Minister Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said Pakistans constitution ensured equal rights to minorities.
He said the government had been taking steps for the protection of places of worship of minorities, and sufficient funds had been provided for the maintenance of their temples and other holy places.
Pointing to the demand for repair of the temple, he held out assurance that the federal government would carry out the work in due course of time.
He thanked the minorities for their positive contribution to the nation building and assured that the government would held them in high esteem.
Earlier, Mukhi Eshwar Lal, in his address of welcome, thanked the federal, provincial and district governments for their help in holding the three-day celebrations in a befitting manner.