Only 700 go to Kartarpur despite special fee waiver
PARKASH PURB Online registration process and requirement of passport for pilgrims cited as main reasons behind the low footfall
AMRITSAR/ISLAMABAD:Barely three days after the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, only 700 Indian pilgrims crossed over to Pakistan to visit Darbar Sahib gurdwara on Tuesday even though Pakistani authorities waived a $20 service fee and doubled the number of pilgrims who can use the facility on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
Indian officials cited the online registration process and requirement of passports to register as two major reasons for the low footfall for the corridor, which gives Indians visa-free access to the gurdwara built at the spot where the founder of Sikhism spent the last 18 years of his life.
On Sunday and Monday, as few as 250 and 122 Indian pilgrims went to Kartarpur through the corridor that was thrown open on November 9.
Thousands of pilgrims from India and other countries had attended the inauguration ceremony in Pakistan that was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Tuesday, more than 40,000 devotees, who paid obeisance at the Gurdwara Chola Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Dera Baba Nanak had a glimpse of the Kartarpur gurdwara from the ‘darshan asthan’, a raised platform near the zero line, with binoculars installed by the BSF. Most of them had no clarity about the documents required to cross over to Pakistan through the corridor.
“This is the first time that 40,000 devotees reached here on Parkash Purab (Prakash Parv). Earlier, nearly 8,000 to 9,000 devotees would pay obeisance on the occasion. This happened due to the opening of the corridor,” said Dera Baba Nanak municipal council president Parmeet Singh Bedi. “Most devotees wanted to cross over with Aadhaar cards. Many had brought their passports along but were not aware about the online registration process. So they had to return after paying obeisance from ‘darshan asthan’.”
MB Sabharwal, a 72-year-old resident of Jalandhar, said: “We learnt through the media that only the Aadhaar card is required to go to Kartarpur. My family was not allowed by security agencies, who said passports and online registration are a must. Like me, thousands of people are being harassed as they are not aware about the procedure.” Dera Baba Nanak sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gursimran Singh Dhillon said, “We are appealing to people to apply online first.” Pakistan’s Sikh minority observed the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Tuesday, with the main ceremony being held at Gurdwara Janamsthan at Nankana Sahib, birthplace of Sikhism’s founder.
Among those who attended the event was interior minister Ejaz Shah. In his speech, he said the Kartarpur Corridor was a great gift from the Pakistan government to Sikhs, and he hoped it would pave the way for peace and friendship in the region.
Pakistan will continue to look after shrines of religious minorities, including the Sikh community, “as best as possible”, he said.
Addressing the ceremony, Punjab governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said government is committed to protecting the heritage of religious minorities. He added that the Pakistani people had “opened their hearts for the Kartarpur Corridor”.
In a message on the occasion, Pakistani Punjab’s CM Usman Buzdar said opening of the corridor had rejuvenated the Sikh community and this was a historic step by the government to promote religious harmony.
ON SUNDAY AND
MONDAY, AS FEW AS 250 AND 122 INDIAN PILGRIMS WENT TO DARBAR SAHIB THROUGH CORRIDOR
Most pilgrims who want to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, the last resting place of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak in Pakistan, are not clear about the procedure to apply for the pilgrimage. Here is the brief guide to a smooth journey to the shrine, just 4km from the border. Website for registration:
www.prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in
Languages in which website is available: English and Gurmukhi (Punjabi) Any other method of
registration: No
Aspiring pilgrims need to fill the online registration form at least 12 days before the date of visiting the shrine. For example, if one wants to travel on November 24, one needs to apply on or before November 12. India sends the list of pilgrims to Pakistan 10 days before the travel date.
BEFORE FILLING THE REGISTRATION
Ensure that Acrobat Reader is installed in your computer.
The applicant must be aware of his/ her blood group for filling the registration form.
Keep the following items ready while filling the form:
A scanned copy of passport size photo (in JPG format not exceeding 300KB in size)
A scanned copy of the passport (containing photo and personal particulars) and the last page containing family details in pdf format only not exceeding 500KB in size
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE PILGRIMAGE
The applicant must have a passport, details of which are required to fill the online registration form also. Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holder needs to fill OCI card details in the registration form. Adhaar card or any other identity proof will not work for this pilgrimage. Is your passport stamped in Pakistan? As the pilgrimage is visa-free, there is no stamp put by Pakistan on the passport. The passport only needs to be carried as a valid identity proof.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER FILLING THE FORM ONLINE?
After successful online registration, take a printout of the form and keep it with you for reference.
You will receive an SMS and an e-mail having the registration number after successful registration.
Pilgrims will be informed by SMS and email of the confirmation of registration three to four days before the date of travel.
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be generated on the website after the pilgrim receives confirmation of the registration through SMS and email.
Download the ETA by clicking the option ‘registration status’ on the website. The passport and registration numbers are required to download the ETA.
Pilgrims need to carry the printout of the ETA, along with their passport, when they arrive at the Passenger Terminal Building, at Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur.
Persons of Indian Origin need to carry the OCI card along with the passport of their country.
STILL DON’T KNOW HOW TO APPLY? HERE’S HELP
Filling the online registration is done free at all Sewa Kendras or Suwidha Centres run by the Punjab government.
Pilgrims can also visit private internet cafes for online registration.
IS THE PILGRIMAGE ONLY FOR SIKHS?
No, Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the corridor.
WHEN IS THE PILGRIMAGE UNDERTAKEN?
The corridor is open from dawn to dusk. Pilgrims travelling in the morning will have to return the same day The corridor is operational throughout the year, except on notified days, to be informed in advance Pilgrims will have a choice to visit as individuals or in groups, and also to travel on foot
WHERE TO PAY THE SERVICE FEE OF $20 (₹1,400) PER HEAD
Pilgrims don’t need to pay any fee while filling the online registration form.
The fee is charged at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) on the Pakistan side once a pilgrim crosses over to Pakistan territory on the day of travel.
It is mandatory to pay the fee only in US dollars.
Though counters are there at Pakistan’s ICP to get Indian rupees converted to US dollars before paying the fee, pilgrims are advised to carry $20 from India, because the counters in Pakistan charge extra for currency exchange.