The urns of ash or ‘asthi kalash’ from Pakistan were among 6,000 others from India which were immersed in Ganga on September 24.
Hoping to attain ‘moksha’, the ashes of 160 Pakistani Hindus waited at Karachi for more than five years, before finally being immersed in the Holy Ganga last week.
Carefully stored at the Panchmukhi Hanuman temple, said to be 1500 year old, the ashes were brought to India by the head priest of Panchmukhi Hanuman temple, Ramnath Maharaj and his nephew Kabir Kumar via the Wagah border with the help of the Indian government.
The ashes were immersed with much fanfare, including an entourage of approximate 50 people who followed with a band and the sound of drums, after performing a yagya which lasted almost six hours.
The journey of the ashes was, however, not a simple one. The urns of ash or ‘asthi kalash’ from Pakistan were among 6,000 others from India which were immersed in Ganga on September 24 as part of a nation-wide campaign undertaken by a Delhi-based NGO, Shri Devodhan Sewa Samiti (SDSS).
The Samiti performs the last rites of immersing the ashes after cremation of those in need or those who don't have a next of kin. The samiti has so far, performed the immersion ritual in Hindu religion, for more than 1.5 lakh departed souls over the past 12 years.
“We collect ashes from cremation grounds in fives states and bring out advertisements in others to bring out others to help the departed souls attain Moksha as per the Hindu rituals. These are mainly unknown people or those who don’t have next to kin,” said Vijay Sharma of the Samiti.
Bringing the ashes from Pakistan is, however, a difficult task. The tiresome visa process, adds to the delay in immersing the ashes of Pakistani Hindus in the Ganga, claim the Samiti officials. The growing tension between the two nations, however, meant a longer wait restricted the entry of the delegation carrying the ashes, whereby leaving some souls to wait a little longer. "We could only carry 160 asthi kalash from Karachi as only two out of 10 were granted visas. There are more than 40 other 'asthi kalash' waiting at Sondari Shamshan (the cremation ground in Karachi)," said the head priest.
This was the second time that the priest had come to India with the 'asthis'. “My last visit to India was in 2011, then I had arrived with 135 'asthi kalash', some as old as 30 years. The ashes are of those who may have shifted to Pakistan during partition along with their families, but continued to wish for the Holy Ganga to be their final resting place,” Ramnath added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Ashes immersed in Ganga")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}