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”.
