The Indian jatha’s were received by additional secretary (Shrines) of Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board Rana Shahid Saleem and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (PSGPC) present and former presidents at Wagah (Pakistan) international border from where they left for Nankana Sahib by special trains.
Spokespersons, ETPB, Aamir Hashmi informed TOI that they received2,500 Sikh devotees from India who were divided into four different Sikh jatha’s .
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) jatha was led by Preet Singh, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee jatha was led by Diljit Singh, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee jatha was led by Manjit Singh while Bhai Mardana Yadgaree Kirtan Darbar Society jatha was led by Jagjit Singh, he said.
Hashmi claimed that a total of 2,942 visas were issued by Pakistan High Commission in India out of which only 2500 devotees arrived to celebrate the birth anniversary of Baba ji.
“We are expecting around 20,000 devotees to converge at Nankana Sahib from across Pakistan and around the world,” he said.
He claimed that ETPB had made all the arrangements for the followers of Baba Nanak, including boarding, lodging, travel, medical and other facilities.
Sources informed that the Sikh leaders would take up the issue of karsewa (voluntary service) of different gurdwara’s in Pakistan which required urgent attention to carry out repair and renovation work.
Before leaving for Pakistan, SGPC member Bhai Manjit Singh resented that SGPC had sent passports of 1,496 pilgrims for getting visas to Pakistan High Commission but applications of 586 pilgrims were rejected.
“It is a very important issue and governments of both countries should pay special attention to this,” he said.
After crossing the border on November 6, the Sikh devotees will leave for Nankana Sahib by special trains, and the next day on November 7, the Sikh devotees will pay obeisance at Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Farooqabad, and will travel back to Nankana Sahib by road.
The main celebration function will be held at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib on November 8 with the bhog of akhand path.
On November 9, the Indian pilgrims will leave for Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasanabdal by special train and will stay till November 10 following which they will leave for Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore and will stay till November 12.
The Indian devotees will also pay obeisance at Gurdwara Dabrar Sahib, Kartapur Sahib on November 13 where they will stay overnight and the next day on November 14, the devotees will pay obeisance at Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Eminabad, and will leave for India on November 15.