TEMPLES OF BHERA – BOULIWALA MANDIR
Before 1947, a sizable population of Hindus and Sikhs lived in Bhera , district Sargodha . Municipal Committee Bhera can confirm their exact percentage. Community had temples inside and outside the Walled City of Bhera , having nine gates . As heard from elders and mentioned in books , the wall connected the darwazas . Alignment was close to present Circular Road . Around 11 temples have been identified , mostly in dilapidated condition, or have vanished . Presently , to the best of knowledge , no Hindu or Sikh is living in Bhera. The biggest temple , Bouliwala, is located north of mohallah Pirachgan in the open field . It is about a kilometre from Chirriya Chog Darwaza (Qabli Gate – 1865) on a kaccha road , which goes to the left bank of River Jhelum. Before independence , it was called Kararianwali Road , sacred to the Hindus . It started from Chirriya Chog Mandir ( also called Chiri Chowk), leading to Buoliwala – Marriwala khu ( well) – Gharibhan ( place where small mud pitchers broken as ritual ) – Shamshan Ghat ( cremation site) – Noonawala nullah and a small Dhabayanwala darya ( river) , both have been cut away by heavy floods in the river . The Hindus scattered the ashes of their deceased in the river Jhelum , holy to them , believed Vedas were written on its banks ( 1500 – 1200 BCE) . A few pictures of Bouliwala Mandir are shared .
