Record 300,000 Hindu Pilgrims Attend Hinglaj Mata Festival in Balochistan

The annual Hinglaj Mata festival at the ancient temple in Hingol National Park concluded on Monday after drawing nearly 300,000 Hindu pilgrims, marking a significant tripling of last year’s attendance and highlighting Pakistan’s interfaith harmony.

The three-day event saw thousands of devotees undertake arduous journeys on foot, some walking up to 20 days from districts in Sindh including Tharparkar, Umerkot, and Sanghar. Many more arrived from across Pakistan, with the sacred site, one of Hinduism’s 51 Shakti Peethas, nestled in the rugged mountains of Balochistan.

Security forces, including the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps, along with local authorities, provided extensive support with medical camps, food, water, and logistics to ensure the pilgrims’ safety and comfort during the gathering in the remote Hingol area.

Senator Daanesh Kumar, who visited the shrine, described the massive turnout as powerful evidence of Pakistan’s commitment to minority rights and religious freedom. “After India and Nepal, one of the world’s largest Hindu religious gatherings takes place here,” he said, adding that nearly one million devotees visit the temple throughout the year.

Organizers and officials noted the event’s smooth conduct amid challenging terrain, with pilgrims performing rituals at sacred spots including mud volcanoes in the national park.

The festival has grown steadily in recent years, reflecting the deep devotion of Pakistan’s Hindu community to Hinglaj Mata, locally revered as “Nani” by some Baloch groups as well.

This year’s record participation underscores the temple’s status as Pakistan’s largest Hindu pilgrimage site and a symbol of peaceful coexistence in the region.