Pakistan issues 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims arriving from India

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims coming from India for Jor Mela - an annual festival held in Lahore to mark the death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, festivities will be held in Pakistan from June 8 to 17 this year.

The issuance of visas is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to fully implement the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, read the statement. It added that every year a "large number of Indian Yatrees visit the country to observe various religious festivals and occasions".

Chargé d’Affaires Salman Sharif wished the pilgrims a rewarding and fulfilling journey. He said that Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims.

The Indian pilgrims are to reach Pakistan via the Wagah Border and will be received by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and representatives of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.

According to Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee head Sardar Amir Singh, the Urs of Guru Arjan Dev Ji will be held on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. The pilgrims will also visit other holy sites including Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

India’s Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Delhi Committee have once again refused to come to Pakistan due to differences over the “Nanak Shahi” calendar and instead observed the death anniversary on May 23.

Read: India disallows special trains for Sikh pilgrims travelling to Pakistan

Guru Arjan Dev Ji is the fifth Guru of the community. He was born in 1563 and was anointed as a Guru after the death of his father Guru Ram Das Ji in 1581, when he was 18 years of age. In 1606, under the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was held captive and he passed away in the same year due to extreme torture.

Although legend has it that Guru Arjan Dev Ji was allowed to take a bath in River Ravi shortly after being imprisoned. As thousands watched him take a holy dip, the Guru entered the river and never emerged out of the water. The place in River Ravi where Guru Arjan Dev Ji is believed to have died has been preserved and is marked by a well built there.

Some historians believe that Guru Arjan Dev Ji was captured by Jahangir for supporting Jahangir’s son Khusro, who was rebelling against his father for accession to the throne. Meanwhile, according to Sikh tradition, one of Jahangir’s Hindu advisors, namely Chand Vimal, wished to get his daughter married to Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s son, and when the Guru refused to accept the proposal, the Hindu advisor incited Jahangir against the Sikh guru and conspired against him.

Another group from India is to arrive on June 21 for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, said Amir Singh, adding that the main event for this will be held on June 29 and the Indian visitors will return back to their country the following day.