Multan is one of the region’s oldest cities.
Its unique position has always put it in the path of travelers and invaders, encouraging the development of new communities over the years.
The six gates — Lohari Gate, Pak Gate, Bohar Gate, Haram Gate, Daulat Gate and Delhi Gate — testify to this fact.
With new settlements springing up following the influx from these gates, it is no surprise that the make up of the city is cosmopolitan, though predominantly Muslim.
The ongoing cricket series between Indian and Pakistan has been trailblazing in one fact — spreading amity.
This spirit, evident in the warm welcome and hospitality to the Indians coming from across the border and elsewhere, is dovetailed with the spirit existing on the ground.
Mosques abound in the city, which also boasts six churches of different denominations and four temples for the Hindus to practice their religion.
The splendor of the main mosque, which has retained the Tuglaq era architecture with an infused dome surrounded by the four conjoined minarets, is there for all to see.
Adjacent is the Idgah, where Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha prayers are offered with fervor.
On Tuesday it was the turn of the Hindus to turn out in numbers to celebrate a festival — Ram Navami.
And following their celebration the city marked the occasion with a meeting of all communities.
The celebrations were held at a local hotel in which city nazim Faisal Mukhtar was the chief guest and Pakistan Majority and Minority (PMM) President Kishore Murad Kishore the main speaker.
Yes the subject — “peace and friendship”.
It made me wonder whether this was a one-off occasion or a regular feature.
A visit to the temple nearby at Double Phatak, said to be the biggest here, brought out the Hindu community leader of the area.
He said they had been doing this for 40 years, the government and city officials even helped them rebuild the Balmiki (maybe Valmiki) temple in 1983 and now it was spacious.
A small community of fifteen families lives around the temple.
The community leader is called Lalchand.
He says that about four generations of Hindus have lived here.
“We too would like to see our families in Haryana, Rajasthan, Rewadi and of course New Delhi, and we hope this series of peace will open the doors,” he said.
The three other temples in Gulshanabad, Sutriwat and Baelatar in the cantonment too have thriving Hindu communities.
The community leader in Gulshanabad is called Bal and his family has its roots in the city.
He says, “The ten families who stay here are all from Multan.
We do not remember which generation of our forefathers had come here. But we consider ourselves Multanis and Pakistanis.”
Despite that, Bal expressed the hope that one day he would be able to see India, as a tourist rather than like the person of a divided family pining to see their roots and families on the either side of the border.
Ironically a symbol of amity too exists in this city.
Just near the Baha ud-Din Zakaria mausoleum, an edifice that has some marked similarity to the Gol Gombud in Golconda, India, a ruin of a temple stands adjacent to a mosque.
The Wakf board which administers the mosque is ready to rebuild the temple, but the 200 odd families of Hindus are more than happy with the four places they have.
Maybe it is the distance to the mausoleum, which is near the ramparts of the old fort, which prompted the decision to leave the temple in that state.
But the offer is there for them to take.
Now that the hearts have opened, maybe the gates will too.
Though there are six gates in this city, the one people long to travel is the Delhi Gate — be they be of any denomination.
