In order to participate in the 10-day Baisakhi holiday celebrations at several Gurdwaras in Punjab, Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Lahore on Sunday.
To celebrate Baisakhi, particularly in the Gurdwaras Panja Sahib (Hasanabdal), Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Dera Sahib (Lahore), and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur), Narowal, up to 2,470 pilgrims crossed the Wagah-Attari border on foot.
The pilgrims were welcomed at the Wagah border by representatives of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and other relevant departments, and there they were also given langar.
In interviews with the media, the pilgrims expressed their joy and said they felt as though Pakistan was their own country where they could see their gurus. They thanked the Pakistani government for making such lavish preparations for them during Baisakhi.
The ETPB personnel claimed that Pakistan has always wished to make it easier for pilgrims from India and other nations to travel to their sacred sites throughout the nation. When the pilgrims visited Hasanabdal, Nankana, and other cities, they were promised the best amenities.
According to an official source, the pilgrims entered Pakistan in groups, led by:
- Amarjit Singh Bhalipur, the party leader of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), India
- Balwinder Singh, the deputy party leader SGPC
- Joginder Kaur, the deputy party leader SGPC
- Kulwant Singh, the deputy party leader SGPC
- Harjeet Singh, secretary SGPC
- Panj Pyaray Sahiban
- Mangal Singh
- Joga Singh
- Sandeep Singh
- Jatinder Singh
- Jarmeljit Singh
- Baljinder Singh, deputy party leader of Bhai Mardana Society
- Surjit Singh of All India Danga Peer Welfare Punjab
- Inderjeet Singh, the party leader Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee
The pilgrims traveled on special buses under security to Nankana Sahib on the way. After arriving in Nankana, they were given lunch before beginning to perform religious rites at Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthplace and other gurdwaras.
They will leave for Gurdwara Sacha Sauda (Farooqabad) today, April 10, and return to Nankana that same day via road. They will tour more nearby gurdwaras in Nankana on April 11 before traveling by road to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal on April 12.
The primary event, known as “Bhog Akhand Paath Sahib & Nagar Kirtan,” to commemorate the 324th Khalsa Janam Din, will take place on April 14 at Panja Sahib.
They will travel to Lahore and stay in Gurdwara Dera Sahib for the following day. They will depart for Eminabad on April 16 in order to attend Gurdwara Roro Sahib. They will also travel to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Narowal, on the same day. They’ll spend the night there as well.
The Sikh pilgrims will once more leave on April 17 for the Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, where they will spend the night before traveling back to India via Wagah the following day.
ETPB Chairman Dr. Habibur Rehman Gilani stated, “I have instructed the authorities involved to leave no stone unturned in helping the pilgrims from India and other countries as well as from various sections of Pakistan.”
