Pilgrims leave for Pak to celebrate Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev

On the eve of the 555th Parkash Purb of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, close to 2,550 Indian pilgrims, under the umbrella of different Sikh organisations, crossed over to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post here today.

This year’s celebrations are marked by both joy and concern over the visa issues, as devotees continue to hope for more opportunities to visit sacred sites in Pakistan. The devotees have appealed for more lenient visa policies, noting many were disappointed at being unable to travel.

A 750-member Sikh jatha (group of pilgrims), sponsored by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), departed from the Golden Temple Complex for the Janam Asthan Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Similarly, another jatha comprising 329 members under the banner of Rababi Bhai Mardana Yatra Committee, Ferozepur, reached Pakistan.

They were received by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Ramesh Singh Arora and Evacuee Property Trust Board officials at Wagah.

The main event would take place at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, on November 15. The pilgrims would also visit several historic gurdwaras in Pakistan. The 10-day pilgrimage would conclude on November 23.

Meanwhile, to mark the occasion, the SGPC organised a grand Nagar Kirtan from the Akal Takht led by ‘Panj Pyaras’.

Meanwhile, the SGPC had sent 2,244 applications for visas to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi; but 1,481 were rejected. SGPC secretary Partap Singh criticised the high rejection rate, which exceeded 60 per cent this year, compared to 45 per cent last year.