LARKANA, Pakistan: Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims departed from Larkana and Karachi on Saturday for Nankana Sahib to participate in the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.
The commemorations, which attract devotees from across the world, will run from November 4 to 13.
At Larkana Railway Station, more than 230 devotees — including men, women, and children from Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts — boarded a special train bound for Nankana Sahib.
Hindu Panchayat Chairman Harish Lal, along with community leaders Muni Gul and Vishal Malani, bid farewell to the Sikh pilgrims amid the sound of drums and shehnais.
Station Master Ayaz Abbasi said the special train left under strict security provided by railway and local police.
The passengers are scheduled to return on November 7 after taking part in the Sikh religious rituals. “The pilgrims’ safety has been ensured throughout the journey,” Abbasi added.
A similar special train departed from Karachi Cantt Station earlier in the day. The Pakistan Railways-arranged service, comprising 14 coaches, including 12 economy, one AC business coach, and a power van, will reach Nankana Sahib early on Sunday morning.
Nine coaches were attached in Karachi, while five more were added at Rohri and Larkana. In total, 950 Sikh yatrees are travelling aboard the service.
Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi extended his best wishes to the pilgrims and instructed officials to provide all possible facilities during the journey.
“Minorities living in Pakistan enjoy complete religious freedom,” the minister said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of all religious communities.
Preparations finalised in Punjab
The Punjab government has finalised all arrangements for the main celebrations, which will be held at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, from November 3 to 6.
Provincial ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora visited the site to review security and hospitality preparations.
Officials expect around 30,000 pilgrims to attend, including over 2,100 from India. The festivities will begin with the Akhand Paath and culminate with the Nagar Kirtan procession on November 6.
To manage the influx of visitors, all schools and colleges in Nankana City will remain closed from November 4 to 6, while Baba Guru Nanak University will observe holidays from November 3 to 6. Special medical wards have been set up in Lahore and Faisalabad to provide assistance to pilgrims.
Indian pilgrims granted visas
According to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, more than 2,100 visas have been issued to Sikh pilgrims from India under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines (1974).
The pilgrims will enter Pakistan via the Wagah Border on November 4 and proceed to Nankana Sahib, where the main ceremony will take place on November 5.
During their stay, the delegation will also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal, Gurdwara Rori Sahib Eminabad in Gujranwala, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore before returning to India on November 13.
Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich extended warm felicitations to the Indian pilgrims, expressing hope that their visit would “help strengthen the bonds of peace and religious harmony between the peoples of Pakistan and India.”
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating visits to sacred Sikh sites as part of efforts to promote interfaith understanding and cultural coexistence.
Global participation
According to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Sikh pilgrims from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia will also join the celebrations.
ETPB officials said all arrangements related to accommodation, transport, food, and security have been completed, with local police and district administrations deployed at key sites.
Thousands of Sikh devotees visit Pakistan each year to mark Baisakhi and other religious festivals at historic gurdwaras.
The government has described this year’s celebrations as a “symbol of Pakistan’s continued efforts to foster peace, tolerance, and interfaith harmony.”
Relations between India and Pakistan have remained strained since the May clashes. Following an attack in April in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India accused Pakistan of involvement, a claim Islamabad strongly denied.
The two countries exchanged limited air strikes in May before a ceasefire was announced on May 10, brokered by US President Donald Trump.
Despite political tensions, Pakistan has maintained that it will continue to uphold the rights of religious minorities and ensure that Sikh pilgrims can freely visit their sacred sites.
