NAROWAL, Pakistan: Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from India and around the world gathered in Pakistan this week to celebrate the 556th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.
The main ceremonies took place at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal, Attock, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
Sikh pilgrims performed religious rituals at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Sunday as part of the ongoing birth anniversary celebrations.
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), in collaboration with the Project Management Unit Kartarpur, also organised a traditional Kabaddi match to mark the occasion.
Pilgrims offered prayers, performed Akhand Paath (continuous recitation of scriptures), Matha Tekna (bowing before the shrine), and took ritual baths in the sacred ponds.
The Gurdwaras were beautifully decorated with flowers, flags, and banners, creating a festive atmosphere.
Thousands attend from India and abroad
More than 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan for the celebrations, crossing the border for the first time since deadly clashes in May had closed the land route between the two countries.
Devotees also travelled from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia to participate in the festivities.
At Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal, pilgrims performed rituals at the shrine of Baba Wali Kandhari.
The three-day celebrations concluded with the Bhog ceremony under tight security. Over 3,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of visitors, with all roads leading to the Gurdwara sealed by law enforcement agencies.
Pilgrims praise Pakistan’s hospitality
Visiting Sikh pilgrims praised the arrangements made by Pakistani authorities, describing the hospitality as “excellent.”
Nishan Singh of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee said the facilities were “commendable,” while Deputy Party Leader Gurmeet Singh Boh lauded the preservation of Gurdwara Panja Sahib’s historical and spiritual essence.
Bibi Gurinder Kaur, a leader of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, expressed deep reverence for Pakistan’s Sikh heritage sites.
“This land holds the spirit of our Guru. For us, it is as holy as Makkah and Madina are to Muslims,” she said.
Kuldeep Singh Gurgaj, Jathedar of Akal Takht, thanked Pakistan for maintaining Sikh religious sites.
“We are always received with respect and love. The care shown to our holy places is deeply appreciated,” he said, adding that the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) had ensured the preservation of Gurdwaras across the country.
Opening of Kartarpur Corridor
Several pilgrims urged the Indian government to fully open the Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate cross-border religious visits.
“Pakistan is the only country where the government spends millions annually on the upkeep of Sikh Gurdwaras,” said Permeet Kaur from Ludhiana. “We are overjoyed to see the facilities provided to our community.”
Dr Sardar Balvinder Singh said the reopening of the corridor would strengthen religious and cultural ties between the two countries. “Pilgrimage relations have normalised, and the Kartarpur route should now be fully operational,” he said.
