Centre lets pilgrims visit Pak Sikh shrines

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 27

Those who wish to visit Pakistan-based Sikh shrines have a reason to smile. After not allowing pilgrimage to Pakistan shrines two times consecutively, the Union Government has given its nod to pilgrimage for celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan in November.

The pilgrims will leave for Pakistan through three special trains on November 2 from the Attari railway station. The anniversary is slated for November 4.

Earlier, on the eve of the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June, the Sikh pilgrims were denied permission to go to Pakistan by the Indian government citing security concerns.

The SGPC has sent passports of 947 Sikh devotees to the Pakistan Consulate in New Delhi for visa.

Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society president Harpal Singh Bhullar confirmed that the clearance for around 400 members had been received from the government and the call for procuring visas was awaited.

Similarly, 425 pilgrims would be part of the jatha being sent by the Khalra Mission Committee.

The Sikh pilgrims will be directly sent to Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib. An akhand path will start on November 2 evening at Sri Nankana Sahib and culminate on November 4.

The Sikh devotees will be sent to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib (Lahore) on November 5. Between November 7 and 10, they will visit around six religious destinations of West Punjab (Pakistan), including Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Gurdwara Dehra Sahib, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, Gurdwara Rodi Sahib, Bhai Lalo Di Khuhi (Aimnabad). The Sikh devotees will return on November 11.