Sidhu arrives in Pakistan for Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary

Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu crossed into Pakistan on Saturday via the Kartarpur Corridor to pay homage to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib.

Pakistani officials welcomed Sidhu with garlands and rose petals. "Imran Khan is my elder brother. He has given me a lot of love," said the former cricketer on arrival.

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from across the globe have gathered in the Nankana Sahib district of Punjab to celebrate the 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of their religion.

Read: Pakistan's reverence for the 'saint of peace' – Baba Guru Nanak

The 10-day celebrations began on Wednesday in Nankana Sahib – the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak with Akhand Path, a reading of 1,430 pages of the holy book of Sikhism, the Granth Sahib.

Pakistan is home to some of the most important pilgrimage sites for Sikhs. They include the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469, Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal.

Sikhs from Afghanistan have arrived in Pakistan through the Torkham Border and a group of Indian Sikh pilgrims has arrived on November 17 through the Wahga border. During the celebrations, Sikh pilgrims will also be visiting Darbar Kartarpur Sahib.