The Last Hindu Temple of Haveli Lakha and History of the Town

2023

Haveli Lakha is a town in the Okara District of the Punjab province in Pakistan. The history of the city dates to the Mughal Empire. The town was believed to be founded by a Mughal emperor named Akbar. During the British colonial era, Haveli Lakha was a part of the Montgomery district.

The name "Haveli Lakha" is derived from two words: "Haveli" and "Lakha". "Haveli" is a Persian word that means "mansion" or "palace", while "Lakha" is a Punjabi word that means "one hundred thousand". According to local tradition, the town was named after a wealthy person named Lakha, who owned a large mansion in the area.

In the 18th century, the Sikhs under the leadership of Bhangi Misl captured Haveli Lakha and made it a part of their territory. Later, the town was ruled by the British Raj after they annexed Punjab in the mid-19th century.

In the 19th century, Haveli Lakha became an important center of agriculture and commerce. The town was known for its cotton and wheat production, and it had a thriving market where traders from nearby towns and villages came to buy and sell goods.

After the partition of India in 1947, Haveli Lakha became a part of Pakistan. Today, the town is a bustling urban center with a growing population and a vibrant economy.

Before the partition of 1947, a diverse community comprising different religions used to live in Haveli Lakha. One still can find remains of a number of elegant pre-partition Hindu buildings inside the city. Which are now mostly occupied by the migratory families that settle here since the partition of 1947. In Haveli Lakha one pre-partition Hindu Temple is still present inside the Government Elementary School No.2. The school has also name Mandar Wala School.  After partition, no Hindu family left in Haveli Lakha, and the temple was used as a school building. With the passage of time cracks appeared and with no care and maintenance the heritage of Lakha is left in a decrepit state.

The structure consists of a single-story square “Sanctum” which was designed for placing the housing deity. In the sanctum room, a corner squinches portion is filled with extended flower bouquet elements made of lime. Around all four sides of the sanctum assembly hall for devotees present in Hindu terminology it is called “Ayatana”

From the square sanctum structure, the main temple curvilinear spire (tower, sikhara) is raised, which is a common type of northern Indian Shrine (Latinas). For the construction of the curvilinear spire, small dimensions of bricks are used which are different from the ground floor of the temple.

A crowning ornament on the top of the shikara is present; it is called “Amalaki” in Hindu terminology this support an embedded spire that might be gold plated at the start of its construction.

On the external walls of temples, you will see a double facet and a vertical offset projection. In Hindu temple architecture, it is called “ratha”.