More than two thousand Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday through the Wagah Border to attend their religious and cultural festival Baisakhi.
The Baisakhi festival starts on Wednesday, April 13 and the main festival ceremony is scheduled to be held at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal on Thursday.
2,200 visas were issued for Baisakhi festival
According to an official source in the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued 2,200 visas to Sikh pilgrims, including women, to attend the festival. 2,044 Sikh pilgrims have already entered in Pakistan through Wagah, the source confirmed.
The Sikh pilgrims from various parts of India initially gathered in Attari on the Indian side and then the caravan led by Sardar Arvinder Singh entered Pakistan crossing the Wagah-Attari border on foot. Officials of Evacuee Trust Property Board, led by Additional Secretary (Shrines) Rana Shahid, members of the Pakistan and Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and other concerned departments received the pilgrims warmly.
Transportation arranged for pilgrims
Transportation facility is being provided to them at all up Railway Station to leave for Hassan Abdal.
A spokesman for the Pakistan Railways police said the pilgrims were first brought from Wagah border to the railway station and then they were shifted to three trains under tight security of the Railways Police.
“Due to security issues, the pilgrims were not allowed to get off the trains on their way to Hasanabdal. Similarly, they wouldn’t be allowed to get off the trains or other transport (bus, car etc) whenever they are traveling in Pakistan during their trip,” the spokesman made it clear.
“The meal was also provided to them free of cost during the journey from Wagah to Hasanabdal. For women pilgrims, the female cops provided special security. All pilgrims reached Hasanabdal at about 8 pm safely,” he added.
After attending the main ceremony at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasanabdal), the pilgrims would also visit Nankana Sahib and other places, he said.
Baisakhi festival
Baisakhi is an ancient spring harvest festival celebrated in India and Pakistan. The festival became closely associated with Sikhism after Guru Gobind Singh fixed a date for of the festival towards the end of the 17th century. The Sikhs celebrate the event every year by making pilgrimages to their holy sites in India and Pakistan.