2,200 Sikh pilgrims from India reach Nankana Sahib
AMRITSAR/LAHORE: A jatha (group) of over 2,200 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, in Pakistan’s Punjab province to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, ahead of the opening of the landmark Kartarpur corridor this week.
Gurdwara Janam Asthan was built at the site where the Guru was born.
Some 2,200 Sikh pilgrims arrived here via the Attari-Wagah border and they were received by senior officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), a spokesperson of board said.
After their arrival, the Sikh pilgrims left for Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, the spokesperson said.
Another 2,000 pilgrims will arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday.
Of the 2,200 pilgrims, 1,300 were sent by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the visit was flagged off by SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh from Teja Singh Samundari Hall, Amritsar.
SGPC members Gurmeet Singh Booh and Baba Charanjit Singh Jassowal are leading the jatha.
During their stay in Pakistan, they will also visit other gurdwaras in the Punjab province and attend the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor on November 9 and take part in the main function in connection with the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on November 12. They will return to India on November 14, he said.
ETPB chairman Amir Ahmed said the Sikh pilgrims will be fully facilitated and fool-proof security will be provided to them.
Group leader Gurmeet Singh said that they have brought a message of love and peace. He said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to open the Kartarpur corridor for Sikhs will be remembered for a long time. “We are very happy to come here,” he said.