(28 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hingol National Park, Baluchistan – 27 April 2024
1. Bus carrying Hindu devotees to visit Hinglaj Mata temple, people chanting
2. Various of women in colorful dresses, some of them carrying babies, walking towards mud volcano
3. Various of pilgrims climbing stairs to reach the mud volcano where they throw coconuts to ritually seek permission of the goddess to visit the temple
4. Aerial of devotees climbing stairs to reach the mud volcano ++MUTE++
5. Aerial of pilgrims gathering around mud volcano ++MUTE++
6. Various of people throwing coconuts in mud volcano
7. Various of pilgrims walking against strong winds, shielding their eyes from dust
8. Bus carrying devotees moving towards Hinglaj Temple
9. Various of Aloo Kumar, and her son and daughter-in-law, visiting Hinglaj Temple
10. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Aloo Kumar, Hindu pilgrim:
“I asked for blessings for my son (last year), that he stay happy and have children. I asked for blessings, and he got a son. I am so happy, very happy.”
11. Tracking shot of mountainous near Hinglaj Temple
12. Aerial of bazaar which was set up for the festival on the road leading to the temple ++MUTE++
13. Aerial of mountains where Hinglaj Temple is located inside a cave ++MUTE++
14. Mid of man carrying his wife to the temple
15. Various of pilgrims carrying their luggage and children to the temple
16. Various of devotees buying offerings for the temple
17. Close of rosaries of beads
++NIGHT SHOTS++
18. Lights hanging over the temple as evening falls “
19. Men chanting “Jai Mata Di” meaning “Hail Mother Goddess”
20. Pilgrims making offering to the temple ++NIGHT SHOT++
21. Kanwal Kumar and Amit Kumar, a childless couple, praying to the goddess for a child
22. Incense burning
23. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Kanwal Kumar, Hindu pilgrim:
“I have come to Hinglaj from Sukkur. This is my first ever visit. I am praying for children of my own. I have firm belief that Mata (the goddess) will grant me my wish. She grants everyone’s wishes, so she will grant mine too, I believe in her, that’s all."
24. Pan right to devotees bowing before the goddess
25. Various of idols wearing golden crowns and decorated with jewelry at the temple
26. Various of men bowing before the goddess
27. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Versi Mal K Dewani, general secretary, Shri Hinglaj Mata Welfare & Development Society:
“Hindus from all over the world long to visit this temple, but they can’t for lack of visas or other problems. I request the Pakistani government to grant visas to Hindus from other countries to visit this temple. It will boost our foreign exchange reserve and project a positive image of the country, people-to-people contacts will be established, and relationships will improve. Mistrust between people will end. We want the system to be upgraded.”
28. Various of people dancing at midnight to celebrate
29. Tilt down people moving around the temple at night
STORYLINE:
The ascent of steep mud volcanoes marks the beginning of the biggest Hindu pilgrimage festivals in southwestern Pakistan.
People climb hundreds of stairs to reach the volcano’s summit where they toss coconuts and rose petals into the shallow crater.
This ritual signifies the wishing for divine permission to visit Hinglaj Mata, an ancient cave temple that is the focus of their three-day worship.
Hinglaj Yatra is Pakistan’s largest Hindu festival, which takes place at the Hingol National Park in Baluchistan province.
The journey of pilgrims starts hundreds of miles away, mostly from neighboring Sindh province.
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