More than three thousand Sikh Yatris (pilgrims) have arrived at Wagah Railway Station Lahore on Saturday through three special trains to celebrate 548th Birth Anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion Baba Guru Nanak Dev Jee.
Pakistan Sikh Gurudawara Parbandhak Committee President Sardar Tara Singh and other senior Evacuee Trust Property Board officials received them warmly at Railway Station on their arrival through three special trains.
According to ETPB spokesman, Gurudawara Sri Kiyara Singh at Nankana Sahib is being opened for the pilgrims which have remained closed for almost seventy-five years, while stone laying ceremony of the monument of Bhai Mardana, who was a close companion of Guru Nanak Sahib, by the Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board would be held tomorrow.
He said that inauguration of Angetha Sahib at Darbar Sahib Kartarpur would be made on 19th this month and stone laying of Baba Guru Nanak University would be held in January next year.
He said that the Pakistan government has made foolproof security arrangements besides immigration, customs, bank and medical facilities at the Wahga railway station to facilitate the pilgrims.
He said that main ceremonies of the birth anniversary of Bab Guru NanakDev Jee will be held on Monday and Sikh Yatris will leave for Gurudawara Panja Sahib Hassan Abdal on Tuesday and will return for Gurudawara Dera Sahib on Thursday.
The spokesman informed that during their stay at Lahore, the Yatris will visit Gurudawara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal and Gurudawara Rohri Sahib Aimanabad.
He said that these Sikh Pilgrims will return to their homeland on 21st this month through Wahga Railway Station.
Earlier, the Pakistan High Commission issued 3,316 visas to the Indian Sikh pilgrims to attend celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev from November 12 to 21 in the country.
Every year, thousands of Sikhs from all over the world including India, come to Nankana Sahib to attend the annual birth anniversary celebrations of first Sikh guru, Baba Guru Nanak Dev in Gurudwara.
In line with Pakistan’s efforts to encourage people to people contacts and promote religious tourism the High Commission in India has issued visas to pilgrims more than the numbers prescribed under the 1974 bilateral protocol.
Read more: Guru Nanak’s birth celebrations: Pakistan issues 3,316 visas to Sikh pilgrims
