Sikh devotees arrive to celebrate birth anniversary of Guru Nanak

LAHORE: Around 3,000 Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims) delegation reached Pakistan from India through the Wagah border here on Saturday to participate in the 554th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Jee, the Sikh religion founder.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Additional Secretary (Shrines) Rana Shahid Saleem, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan Sardar Ameer Singh, committee members Sardar Satwant Singh, Sardar Rawinder Singh and others warmly welcomed the pilgrims.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Amritsar leader Khushmindar Singh told the media about their special love for Pakistanis that compelled them to visit the country again and again. He recalled that he had visited the sacred land of Pakistan three times, commenting that facilities and arrangements for pilgrims improved every time.

He said the Sikh Yatrees were happy with the opening of Kartarpur Corridor, adding, “We are grateful to the Pakistan government, particularly ETPB, for making arrangements for protection of Gurdwaras in Pakistan.”

Rana Shahid Saleem welcomed the guests and said the ETPB had made foolproof security arrangements besides accommodation and travelling facilities for Sikh pilgrims. “Special marquees have also been installed and special buses arranged for pilgrims. Officers and employees of ETPB will remain busy day and night to serve the guests. The board was making an all-out effort to facilitate the pilgrims. Foolproof security arrangements had been made for Sikh pilgrims visiting from across the globe, including India. We warmly welcome all Sikh pilgrims from across the world with open hearts,” Shahid Saleem maintained.

PSGPC Pradhan Sardar Ameer Singh said that he was grateful to his parents for deciding to live in Pakistan at the time of Partition as the land is like Makkah and Medina for Sikhism. He demanded restarting train service stopped by the Indian authorities as it was vital to facilitate pilgrims.

He said the ETPB had completed all the arrangements in consultation with the Prabandhak committee. During the 10-day stay in Pakistan from Nov 25 to Dec 4, the pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal, Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, Gurudwara Rohri Sahib Aimenabad and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal.