News Desk

In a significant development, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued visas to more than 3,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims for the upcoming celebrations of Guru Nanak’s 555th birth anniversary. The visas, which are valid from November 14 to November 23, 2024, were granted under the framework of the 1974 religious tourism agreement between India and Pakistan. This agreement allows Sikh devotees from India to visit religious sites in Pakistan, particularly those associated with Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

The pilgrims will cross the Wagah Border on November 14, marking the beginning of their 10-day journey in Pakistan. The highlight of their visit will be the grand celebrations on November 15 at the Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, located in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The event is expected to attract thousands of Sikhs from both Pakistan and abroad, with prayers, kirtan (devotional singing), and special ceremonies held throughout the day.

In addition to visiting Nankana Sahib, the pilgrims will also have the opportunity to visit several other prominent gurdwaras in Pakistan, including Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, where Guru Nanak spent the last years of his life. The 10-day pilgrimage offers Indian Sikhs a rare opportunity to experience the rich religious and cultural heritage of their faith in Pakistan.

The granting of visas for the Guru Nanak anniversary celebrations is seen as a positive gesture aimed at fostering religious and cultural ties between India and Pakistan. Despite the political challenges between the two nations, religious tourism has remained an area of cooperation, with both countries recognizing the importance of preserving and promoting shared spiritual traditions.

The pilgrimage marks not only a religious occasion but also an opportunity for strengthening people-to-people connections, as Sikh pilgrims from India travel to Pakistan to honor the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, whose message of peace, tolerance, and unity continues to resonate worldwide.

– Sikh pilgrimage to Pakistan
– Nankana Sahib celebrations
– 1974 religious tourism agreement
– Gurdwara Janam Asthan celebrations
– Indian pilgrims to Pakistan