Rituals: Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations conclude

Sikh pilgrims are set to depart on November 24.

LAHORE: The three-day birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Jee concluded at Nankana Sahib on Sunday.

The palki (palanquin) procession marked the end of the celebrations. Thousands of Sikhs from all over the country, India and other countries participated in the processions and the rituals.

Most of the pilgrims expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. They appreciated the food, health, transportation and security arrangements supervised by the Evacuee Trust Property Board. “We are very grateful for the hospitality the government, the EPTB and the people of Pakistan have shown us,” said a pilgrim. “We feel at home. The people here are very welcoming and they have shown us much love,” he said.



The pilgrims will depart from Pakistan on November 24 after visiting Gurdwara Sacha Soda, Gurdwara Panja Sahib at Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore Gurwadara Rori Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

ETPB Chairman Sikandar Ismail Khan assured the pilgrims that the government would continue to serve them to the best of its ability. They would be provided food and security throughout their stay in Pakistan. “Efforts are being made to preserve and maintain Sikh religious sites in their original form,” he said.

Shrines Deputy Secretary Syed Faraz Abbas was presented a shield by the Sikh community for his services in maintaining the gurdwaras and for the welfare of the Sikh community. Vice Chairman Muhammad Riaz, Shrines Additional Secretary Khalid Ali, Deputy Secretary General Azhar Nazir Sulehri, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Sardar Sham Singh, KPK Minister for minorities Sardar Swarn Singh and Nankana Sahib MPA Muhammad Arshad were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2013.