Despite the tense situation between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has granted visas to 2,100 pilgrims. However, the Pakistani authorities did not allow 14 of them to participate in the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib, the Sikhism founder’s birthplace for being Hindus.

The Indian Home Ministry initially granted permission to 2,100 people to participate in the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. Of these, 1,900 entered Pakistan through the Wagah border on Tuesday, November 4. However, Pakistani authorities have sent back 14 pilgrims from the border. All of them are Sindhis of Pakistani origin and Indian citizens. According to reports, the 14 pilgrims were told, “You are Hindus… you will not be allowed to enter with the Sikh pilgrims.”

In addition, 300 people who applied for visas individually were sent back because they did not have the approval of the Home Ministry. Meanwhile, Akal Takht leader Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, a delegation of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) led by Bibi Gurinder Kaur and Ravinder Singh Sweeta of Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee have entered Pakistan to participate in the birth anniversary of Nanak. The main event will be held on Wednesday in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, 80 km from Lahore.

Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa welcomes decision to allow Sikh ‘Jathas’ to visit Pakistan

Every year, a delegation from India visits Sikh religious sites in Pakistan on Nanak Jayanti. Earlier this month, the Indian government allowed Sikh ‘Jathas’ to visit Pakistan. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa welcomed the Centre’s decision to allow Sikh ‘Jathas’ (groups of pilgrims) to visit Pakistan for the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Prakash Purab).

He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for making this visit possible despite the strained bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. He noted that the Prime Minister and Home Minister displayed “the same sentiment and reverence” by issuing a notification allowing the Sikh groups to travel to Pakistan, similar to the 2019 decision to open the Kartarpur shrine. The pilgrimage is being conducted under the framework of the 1974 bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines.

Kartarpur Corridor – an important medium for religious exchange

During their 10-day stay, the visiting Indian Sikh pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Farooqabad, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

The Kartarpur Corridor is a crucial medium for religious exchange because it provides visa-free access for Sikh pilgrims from India to one of their holiest sites in Pakistan, the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, spent his final years.

While visa-free travel for Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib was allowed in 2019, large groups are still travelling following normal protocols. This year, India is taking extra precautions to ensure smooth movement of devotees. Both the governments of India and Pakistan are keeping an eye on the security of the pilgrims.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share