Shri Krishna Mandir also known locally as Om Mandir, is a Hindu temple located in the historic Shahi Bazaar area of

Gwadar Gwadar (, ) is a Port, port city on the southwestern coast of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Balochistan, Pakistan, Balochistan. The city is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, opposite Oman and has a populati ...

, in the

Balochistan Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...

province of

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. It is situated opposite to the Third FP Marine Camp ( Gwadar Marine Camp). The temple is situated adjacent to a Sunni mosque and an Ismaili Jamatkhana, exemplifying the city's tradition of religious harmony.

History

The temple is believed to have been constructed during the period when Gwadar was under the rule of the

Sultanate of Oman Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman’s coastline ...

before the territory was ceded to Pakistan in 1958. The exact date of construction is unknown, but the structure is thought to be several decades or even centuries old. By the late 20th century, the temple had fallen into disrepair due to lack of resources and the gradual decline of the Hindu population in Gwadar.

Restoration

In 2002, Shri Krishna Mandir was restored with the support of the local Muslim community and members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). The restoration effort was notable for its spirit of interfaith harmony and cooperation, as the temple is located in close proximity to a Sunni mosque and an

Ismaili Ismailism () is a branch of Shia Islam. The Isma'ili () get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( imām) to Ja'far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelver Shia, who accept ...

Jamatkhana Jamatkhana or Jamat Khana (from , literally "congregational place") is an amalgamation derived from the Arabic word ''jama‘a'' (gathering) and the Persian word ''khana'' (house, place). It is a term used by some Muslim communities around the w ...

Community and Worship

Although the Hindu population in Gwadar is very small, the temple remains active and continues to host religious functions during festivals such as

Janmashtami Krishna Janmashtami (), also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In certain Hindu texts, such as the ''Gita Govinda' ...

Diwali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual v ...

, and

Holi Holi () is a major Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love and Spring.The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) p. 874 "Holi /'həʊli:/ noun a Hindu spring festival ...".Yudit Greenberg, Encyclopedia of Love in World ...

References

Hindu temples in Balochistan, Pakistan Gwadar District Krishna temples Hinduism in Pakistan Cultural heritage sites in Balochistan, Pakistan {{Pakistan-struct-stub

History

Restoration

Community and Worship

See also

References