Indian Sikh Pilgrims Arrive in Pakistan for Baisakhi Celebrations
Published on: April 14, 2024.
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Sikh Pilgrims from India Participate in Annual Baisakhi Mela Festivities in Pakistan
Nearly 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from India have crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan to take part in the annual three-day Baisakhi Mela festivities. The pilgrims were warmly welcomed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and they will join the main event at Hasan Abdal tomorrow.
During their visit, the pilgrims will have the opportunity to pay homage at Sikh religious sites such as Nankana Sahib and Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. On April 21, they will gather at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore before returning to India via Wagah on April 22.
Preparations for the Baisakhi Mela celebrations in Nankana Sahib are already underway. The festivities are set to begin on April 15 and continue until April 17. Sikh pilgrims from around the world, including India, Canada, and the UK, are expected to arrive in Pakistan today.
To ensure a comfortable stay for the visiting pilgrims, the district administration of Nankana Sahib has made comprehensive arrangements including transportation, accommodation, security, medical facilities, and langar. A notification for holidays in public and private educational institutions in Nankana Sahib has also been issued.
Regarding the warm hospitality extended by Pakistan, Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora expressed gratitude and emphasized the significance of facilitating the pilgrims’ journey. Speaking to the media, he mentioned that Pakistan had granted visas to approximately 3,000 Indian Sikhs for the Baisakhi festival.
The Sikh pilgrims will be transported to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal by train, as mentioned by Arora. He also revealed that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is scheduled to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in the near future.
Arora further urged India to allow Sikh pilgrims to travel from their country to Pakistan by train, emphasizing the importance of fostering stronger ties between the two nations.
Source: [Islamabad Post](https://islamabadpost.com.pk)
