Hindus living close to India's heavily militarized border against Pakistan are putting their faith and money in a temple run by the security forces to steer them past a crippling drought. Many residents of the tiny town of Tanot, the last civilian outpost in Rajasthan state some 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the border, have fled the drought conditions affecting 50 million people across the country.
But barefoot devotees from surrounding areas continue to visit the town to offer prayers at the temple of Durga, the Hindu goddess of power, which is run by Indian security forces manning the volatile Indian frontier. "They come to pray for food and water," said Tanot chief priest D.N. Dwivedi, who is also a corporal serving with India's paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF).
The BSF (Border Security Force) revived the 1,300 year-old temple following India's third war with Pakistan in 1971. "Their faith in the powers of Tanot is so strong that they walk barefoot to reach the temple to pray for an end to this drought. "And believe me, Durga will reward them," said Dwivedi, a BSF weapons instructor who was assigned by his local commander to serve as priest here three years ago. "This drought may be beyond the capability of the state government to tackle, but the powers of the temple are strong," Dwivedi said, as people prayed under the blazing sun.
The drought, the worst to hit Rajasthan in 40 years, has affected some 20 million people across 23,400 villages and stretched the state's relief resources to the limit. The legend on the temple pillars says that during the 1971 Indian military offensive against Pakistan, a total of 3,008 artillery and mortar shells were fired at Tanot before it fell to Pakistani troops. Civilians sheltering in the complex were unharmed but those who ventured out were killed. Tanot was finally attacked and captured by Indian army Gurkha fighters sent out from Jaisalmer town, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) away.
The unexploded shells are kept in glass cases and photos of Pakistani Muslims killed by Hindu soldiers are proudly exhibited, soldiers; in addtion, photos of Hindu commanders who led the successful counter-attack are adorned in the red-painted temple. Sharda Dedvi walked some 20 kilometres (12 miles) with a pot of water on her head to Tanot, where she washed the steps of the temple before collapsing in a corner. "Our cattle are dying. My children are sick and my husband is scrabbling for food and money ... It is only Mother (Durga) that can keep us and our people alive," the Hindu housewife said.
Indian military custodians of the temple have constructed brick and mortar waiting halls for the devotees who often number in the hundreds. Tanot had a permanent population of around 200 when the drought hit the region. "Devotees come to pray against the drought from places like Gatori and Longawal where we killed the Pakistanis," a corporal manning the temple gates said, referring to two battlefields from the 1971 war, located some 50 kilometers (30 miles) apart from Tanot.
A family of Hindus from Ranau town had walked 40 kilometres (25 miles) overnight and were resting outside the temple before joining the prayers. "Only She can protect us in this famine," said Jitender Vyas, one of the Ranau devotees. Weather forecasts promise worse days ahead for Rajasthan in May and June, with temperatures expected to touch 50 Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) and burn out remaining sub-soil moisture.
Rajat Mishra, the civilian administrator of Jaisalmer district, said people's faith in Tanot had historical reasons. "The temple has become a reference point of Hinduism in a turbulent region where the religion has often come under attack," he said, referring to repeated Muslim invasions over the centuries.
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