Ali Usman Baig : Mandi Ahamd abad and the two Twin Hindu Temples (2021)

Date of Visit:- 31-01-2021

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Temples and Devotee's Hall, All doors and windows are still intact

My dear historian friend, Adnan from Depalpur, had been urging me to visit Mandi Ahmadabad for some time now.

Located in District Okara, within Tehsil Depalpur, Mandi Ahmadabad is a town situated eight kilometers from the India/Pakistan international border and 140 kilometers from Lahore. It is positioned near the Bambanwala-Ravi-Bedian Canal (BRB Canal), which branches off from the upper Chenab canal near Bambanwala village. The BRB Canal runs southeast, close to the India-Pakistan border, and then proceeds south, parallel to the border, passing through Mandi Ahmadabad and ending near Basirpur. Additionally, the River Sutlej flows about four kilometers southeast of this town.

Originally known as Mandi Hira Singh, this town was renamed in 1993 by the Government of Punjab in honor of Mirza Ahmad Baig, a well-known local politician.

Adnan informed me about two pre-partition Hindu temples that still exist in this town. These temples are easily visible from outside the town and appear identical from a distance. They are situated within the premises of the Government Higher Secondary School for Boys in Mandi Ahmadabad.

During my visit, I was hosted by Rafi Sehrai Sahib, a schoolteacher by profession and a renowned Punjabi poet. He shared with us that before the partition of 1947, a considerable number of Hindu and Sikh families lived in Mandi Ahmadabad. The school building, which now houses the temples, was a large Hindu temple complex at that time.

The architectural style of these temples is not significantly different from similar structures found elsewhere in Pakistan. The temples predominantly follow the Nagara style, which originated in northern India.

Both temples consist of a raised square sanctum, designed to house the deity's statue. The interior of the temple features a hyperbolic roof, with embrasures on each wall to allow natural light to enter.

Above the square sanctum, the main temple spire (also known as a shikhara) is constructed. It is worth noting that although the two temples may appear similar from a distance, their spire designs differ. The spire consists of three parts.

Temple 1:

The first part is a square platform with design projections on all four sides.

Above it, the second part is raised, also square in design, but with different styles of wall, projections compared to the first part. The third part, situated above the second part, is square at the bottom and merges into a curvilinear top. This temple is an example of a "homogenous" shikhara, featuring four faces of similar design and pattern, with all elements smoothly curving up the face.

Temple 2:

The first part is a square platform with design projections on all four sides. The second part is circular in construction, with wall projections along the circumference. The third part of the tower is also circular.

It is believed that the difference in the design of these two temples might be due to the fact that they housed deities of different genders. These two temples are taller than any others I have seen in Pakistan.

Surrounding these temples is a hall measuring 40 x 64 feet, which was used by devotees. The hall also contains a mezzanine floor where female visitors used to sit.

Unlike many other Hindu buildings in Pakistan, the temples in Ahmadabad are well-preserved by the school authorities. The original wooden doors and windows of the building can still be seen.

These temples were constructed around the year 1945.

In my quest for historical references about Hira Singh, the man after whom this town was originally named, I found limited information. My host, Rafi Sahib, informed me that Hira Singh was a Sikh chieftain of the area who had given his land to the British for the construction of a railway line, which led to the town being named after him.