Sikh pilgrims commemorate Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary

Pilgrims from all over the world are busy performing their religious rituals at Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib as part of the 554th birth anniversary celebrations of the Sikhism founder, Baba Guru Nanak.

On Wednesday, 2,442 pilgrims from India reached Hasan Abdal in three batches by special buses where they were welcomed by Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza, DPO Sardar Ghayas Gul, Assistant Commissioner Dr Sana Ram Chand and other senior officials. The pilgrims were garlanded with flowers while batch leaders were also presented with bouquets.

More than 4,000 pilgrims from all over the world, including India, Britain, and Canada, are participating in the three-day celebrations to mark the 554th birth anniversary celebrations of the Sikhism founder.

Earlier, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha and Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali Shah reviewed the security and other arrangements for the pilgrims and expressed their satisfaction.

Commissioner Chattha said, “Pilgrims from all over the world are our guests and their hospitality is our national and religious duty.” He issued instructions to all the departments to perform their duties honestly.

Rawalpindi RPO Shah said, “All security arrangements have been completed, which are being supervised by the Attock DPO, while a large number of officers and officials of all the relevant departments have been posted in the vicinity of Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib, who are there to protect the life and property of the pilgrims.”

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Sources said, pilgrims arrived from India will leave on November 30 after a two-day stay.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a female pilgrim from India, Hardeepa Kaur, said: “We are grateful for the excellent arrangements made by the Pakistani government.” She thanked the people of Pakistan while expressing satisfaction over the food and security arrangements.

Another female pilgrim, Dalreet, said before coming to Pakistan, there were many doubts in her heart, which were removed by the love received from the Pakistani people. She said she had come to Pakistan for the first time, but “after seeing the arrangements made here and seeing the arrangements for decorating the Gurdwaras, I feel content and now I have also decided to come to Pakistan again soon”.

Assistant Commissioner Dr Sana, who is personally overseeing the arrangements for the care of all pilgrims, said people of all religions were allowed to live and worship with complete freedom in Pakistan. “There are clear orders from the government of Pakistan to provide all possible facilities to the pilgrims, in the light of which the administration of Attock district is doing its work and the departments are performing their duties regarding all the facilities including the provision of food and accommodation to the pilgrims,” she explained.

Another pilgrim from India, Sardar Arjun Singh, said governments have their problems, but the people of Pakistan and India love each other open-heartedly. “The borders have divided our families,” he lamented and added, “Pakistan is a holy land for us where we find peace.” A special prayer for Pakistan was also offered during the religious ceremonies. The pilgrims will leave on November 30 after a two-day stay.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2023.