Ashes of 160 Pak Hindus immersed in Ganga

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 25

Ashes of 160 Hindus brought from various places in Pakistan were immersed at Har-ki-Pauri here yesterday amid customary rituals. The ashes were brought to India a fortnight ago but due to Shraddh Paksha, these were immersed late.

The ashes were collected from various cremation grounds and ghats by Shri Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple Mahant Ram Nath Mishra and his nephew Kabir Mishra.

Besides these, ashes of 6,325 persons from various parts of India were also immersed in the Ganga by Shri Devothan Sewa Samiti and Uttarakhand Dharamyatra Mahasangh members.

Peethadeeshwar Mahant Surendra Nath Avdhoot from the Kalka temple, New Delhi, said during Pitra Paksha immersion of ashes and prayers to forefathers hold immense significance.

President of Shri Devothan Sewa Samiti Anil Narendra said the samiti had been collecting and immersing ashes of Hindus from various parts during Pitra Paksha for the past 15 years.

A large number of saints, including Swami Rameshwaranand Saraswati, teerth purohits, social activists and samiti members, were present on the occasion.

Delhi-based Malvendra Singh said he had been bringing ashes of unknown people from Delhi and nearby states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab since 2001 to Haridwar for immersion in the Ganga, which provides salvation.