Historic Nagar Kirtan all set for August 1

Over 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims to reach Lahore today, while SGPC delegation has already arrived

LAHORE: A delegation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of India has reached Lahore in order to monitor arrangements ahead of a Nagar Kirtan – all set to be taken out from Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on August 1.

Nagar Kirtan is a Sikh custom involving the processional singing of holy hymns throughout a community. Earlier, the event used to take place inside Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib, but this is for the first time that it will start from Pakistan and culminate in India.

The event will conclude in the first week of November and the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji will be organised on November 12 in Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib. More than 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims will reach Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib via the Wagha Border on Tuesday (today) to attend the event.

500-year-old gurdwara opens doors for Indian pilgrims

All across the world, preparations are underway to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Devji, the religious leader of the Sikhs. The SGPC is all set to start Nagar Kirtan from Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib on August 1 and it will conclude at Gurdwara Sultanpur Lodhi. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, other officials and members of the Sikh community are expected to attend the event.

SGPC Chief Secretary Dr Roop Singh, Golden Temple Additional Manager Rajinder Singh Rubi and SGPC members Rajinder Singh Mehta and Gurmeet Singh Buh are part of the delegation.

On August 1, Nagar Kirtan will begin and around 500 Sikh pilgrims will travel from Nankana Sahib to Lahore and then they will leave for Amritsar via the Wagah Border. The Nagar Kirtan would enter India through Attari on the same day and would pass through 17 states and 100 cities before culminating at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi.

The Sikh family with a heart of gold

During the pilgrims’ stay in the country, officials of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Evacuee Trust Property Board will make arrangements of security and accommodation for the pilgrims.

Sardar Satwant Singh, the nominee of the president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said that the Punjab governor and Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Dr Aamir Ahmed are reviewing the preparations. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2019.