TAXILA: Sikhs from across the country and abroad arrived at the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal on Saturday to mark Shaheedi Jor Mela.
It is the 412th death anniversary of the fifth of 11 Sikh gurus, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and the gurudwara is over a 100 years old. A large number of worshippers from around the world come to the gurudwara on religious occasions.
Saturday’s festival begins after dusk ends, with a musical ritual known as Kirtan – a form of devotional singing – that is led by two people on a specially designed stage with a harmonium and tablas while surrounding worshippers chime in as they listen.
“Our pilgrimage to Pakistan is above political, diplomatic and military issues, and Sikhs living on the other side of the border consider it the land of the Guru,” said Sardar Jang Singh, who is leading the contingent of 84 Indian pilgrims, while speaking to the press at Punja Sahib.
He added that both Punjabi cultures, taboos, language, dress and living styles are the same, and they have lived in the same environment for decades, which was why both Punjabs are considered brothers that parted 71 years ago but have the same soil.
The 84 pilgrims arrived earlier the same day abroad a special train to Hassanabdal. They were received by Deputy Commissioner Anwarul Haq and Assistant Commissioner Jannat Hussain Nekokara and were escorted to the gurdwara in a security cordon.
