Sikhs from Kota to skip pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib

KOTA: Sikh pilgrims from Kota have dropped their plans to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan on 550th Prakash Parva of Guru Nanak in November because of security concerns triggered by India-pak tensions over abrogation of article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a Sikh association said.

“Government of India gives permission for pilgrimages to Pakistan every year to Nankana Sahib in Nankana Sahib district and Panja Sahib (Hasan Abdal), and also on Shahidi Parv of Arjun Dev and death anniversary of Maharaj Ranjeet Singh,” said Jagjit Singh ‘Jaggi’, president of Sikh Welfare Society, Kota.

“The union home ministry sends information to pilgrims interested in visiting Nankana Sahib two months prior to the pilgrimage, so that they can apply for Pak visa. This year the union ministry has sent intimation a couple of days ago about the pilgrimage from November 10 to 19 on the occasion of 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak,” he said.

Pilgrims associated with the Sikh Welfare Society have decided to not visit Nankana Sahib this year due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, said Singh who himself was keen on visiting Nankana Sahib. Every year around two dozen Sikhs from Kota visit Sikh pilgrim centres in Pakistan.

Jasbeer Kaur (55), a Sikh, said “Although governments of India and Pakistan have not banned the pilgrimages for Sikhs, but we are concerned about safety and security of the pilgrims; so we have shelved our pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib which was significant this year as it was 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak ji.”

She added, “I was desperate to visit Nankana sahib this year but it is sad that I won’t be able to go on the pilgrimage.”