Heralding a new dawn in Pakistan’s political and cultural landscape, Baba Ghai’s prayers for world peace at the inauguration of Krishna Mandir in Lahore were broadcast across South Asia in 2006.

Krishna Mandir is the first Hindu temple to open in Pakistan for over a generation and, particularly, the first since most were destroyed during reprisal protests against the Indian government’s demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodha (1992).

Krishna Mandir has pioneered a number of firsts, such as the first ever installation of devotional murtis brought from India and public religious celebrations, when previously many Hindus only practiced their faith in the confines of their homes.

Baba Ghai became intimately involved in the Krishna Mandir project after spending Deepwali in Lahore in 2004, unable to find a single temple open for the occasion. The silent despair of Hindus he met made him determined to work with the Government of Punjab and EPTB towards restoration of fundamental religious rights.

A year later, to the very day, AAFS delegates from Britain shared in Krishna Mandir’s jubilant Deepwali celebrations alongside prominent government figures and hundreds of well wishers from all faith communities in Pakistan.

Holi, Janam Ashtmi and Shivaratri celebrations have since been attended by international delegations from India, joined by AAFS Operational Manager Kusam Vedhara and Kiran Bedi MBE JP from Britain, underlining Krishna Mandir’s reputation as a beacon of renewed faith minority empowerment.