Sikh pilgrims delighted with Pakistani hospitality


Sikh pilgrims delighted with Pakistani hospitality

Pakistan’s embassy in New Delhi issued more than 3,300 visas to Indian Sikhs to participate in the 548th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, at his birthplace in Nankana Sahib.

From November 12 to 21, Sikhs from around the world visited various gurdwaras in Pakistan, starting with Nankana Sahib, some 80 km from Lahore, where the main function was held on November 13.

Guru Nanak Dev was born at Rai Bhoi Ki Talvandi (present day Nankana Sahib) near Lahore. He spent the last years of his life at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, about three kilometers from border that separates India and Pakistan.

The first batch of over 2,100 Indian Sikhs arrived in Lahore on Saturday, November 12 on three special trains from Amritsar across the border.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chief Siddiqul Farooq and Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee office-bearers greeted them at Wagah Border, where they were served food. Authorities said they deported one pilgrim who was found to be on the list of ‘black-listed’ passengers.

ETPB chief Farooq briefed the Sikh groups’ leaders about extensive renovation work in gurdwaras in the country especially in the Punjab province.

“We always receive love from the people of Pakistan. We want cordial relations between the two countries and people to people contact,” Sikh leader Sardar Sohan Singh told reporters.

The visitors expressed their delight over the arrangements made by the Government of Pakistan and the Evacuee Trust Property Board, and the love and affection they received from Pakistanis people during their stay.

Talking to media persons at Gurudawara Dera Sahib, Lahore after returning from Hasan Abdal, the pilgrims’ party leader Sardar Harjab Singh said that they had no words to thank the Pakistani authorities, who took “exemplary steps” for their security, residence, transportation and food.

He said that they were thankful to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the ETPB chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq for their timely help in sending back the body of a pilgrim who had died due to a heart attack in Hasan Abdal last week.

The Indian yatrees left Lahore for Amritsar on November 21.

— aka




Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *