LAHORE: The 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak have commenced in Nankana Sahib, with Sikh devotees from around the world participating in the sacred ceremonies.
The pilgrims will mark this significant occasion with prayers and rituals at the Gurdwara, scheduled from the 3rd to the 5th of November.
Over two thousand pilgrims from India are anticipated to arrive tomorrow via the Wagah Border to take part in the festivities. The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has confirmed the issuance of more than 2,100 visas for Indian Sikh pilgrims, marking the first major concession after cross-border travel was suspended during tensions in May.
While there has been no official response from New Delhi so far, Indian media reported on Saturday that the government plans to permit specific groups to participate in the 10-day festival honoring the founder of the Sikh faith.
Comprehensive security measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of visitors. Additionally, the district administration has established facilitation centers, banks, healthcare facilities, and money exchange counters to cater to their needs.
It is expected that approximately thirty thousand Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan and international locations will attend the main ceremony.
Every year, thousands of Sikh devotees travel to Pakistan to observe significant occasions such as Guru Nanak’s birth and death anniversaries, Baisakhi, and other religious festivals. These visits are facilitated under the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which aims to promote religious harmony and foster cross-border understanding
