• Hindu temple in Pakistan uses centuries-old customs to aid flood victims

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    Hindu temple in Pakistan uses centuries-old customs to aid flood victims

    According to the Dawn newspaper, the local Hindu community welcomed flood victims and their animals into the Baba Madhodas Mandir. color:black">

    color:black">Digital Desk: A Hindu temple in a small village of Balochistan has
    cast a light in the darkness by offering food and shelter to roughly 200 to 300
    flood-hit individuals, predominantly Muslims, as millions across Pakistan who
    have been marooned and displaced by the disastrous floods wait in urgent need
    of assistance.



    color:black">The Baba Madhodas Mandir in Jalal Khan village, Kachhi district,
    is perched on high ground and has stayed largely safe from the floodwaters. It
    provides refuge to the flood-affected people during their darkest hours.



    color:black">Due to flooding in the Nari, Bolan, and Lehri rivers, the
    settlement was cut off from the rest of the province, forcing the locals to
    fend for themselves. According to the Dawn newspaper, the local Hindu community
    welcomed flood victims and their animals into the Baba Madhodas Mandir.



    color:black">Locals claim that Baba Madhodas was a revered Hindu saint in the
    region before the partition who was equally loved by Muslims and Hindus.



    color:black">Iltaf Buzdar, a frequent visitor to the village from the Bhag Nari
    tehsil, recalls that "He used to travel on a camel."



    Buzdar claims that the
    saint crossed religious borders according to the tales told to him by his
    parents.




    color:black">He claimed his parents promised him that "he would view
    others through the lens of humanity instead of their caste and creed."



    color:black">The big, concrete worship space is frequently visited by Hindu
    worshipers from all across Balochistan. Being on high ground helped to keep it
    reasonably safe from the floodwaters.



    The majority of the Hindu
    population in Jalal Khan has relocated to neighbouring Kachhi cities in search
    of work and other possibilities, but a few families continue to live on the
    temple grounds to maintain it, according to the article.



    color:black">Currently in charge of the temple is Rattan Kumar, a 55-year-old
    trader from the Bhag Nari tehsil.



    color:black">The newspaper reported him as adding, "There are more than
    100 rooms at the temple since a big number of people from all around
    Balochistan and Sindh come here for pilgrimage every year."



    color:black">Rattan's son Sawan Kumar claimed that while a few rooms were
    harmed by the flooding, the building as a whole was secure.



    According to the account,
    there were at least 200 to 300 persons, predominantly Muslims, and their cattle
    who were provided shelter on the property and cared for by Hindu families.



    color:black">The region was first totally cut off from the rest of the
    district. The displaced claimed that rations were sent to them by helicopter
    flights, but after they entered the temple, they discovered that the Hindu
    community was feeding them.



    color:black">A doctor in Jalal Khan who has established a medical tent within
    the temple said, "Besides residents, Hindus have also sheltered the goats
    and lambs along with other animals."



    He continues, "The
    local Hindus made announcements on the loudspeaker, urging Muslims to run to
    the temple to take refuge."



    color:black">The people who sought safety there said they owe the locals for
    helping them out and giving them food and shelter during this trying time.



    color:black">According to the story, the residents' centuries-old custom of
    showing compassion and religious harmony to flood refugees included opening the
    temple to them.



    color:black">Over 33 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to
    floods that has submerged a third of the nation, destroyed crops, and claimed
    nearly 1,400 lives.



    On Saturday, UN chief
    Antonio Guterres urged the international community to intensify efforts to
    support Pakistan's flood-devastated reconstruction of resilient communities and
    infrastructure to withstand future calamities.



     



    The UN made a request
    for USD 160 million in aid for Pakistan last week. Additionally, the US has
    disclosed an additional 20 million USD in financial support for flood relief.