Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, recorded a footfall of more than 240 Sikh Pilgrims arriving from India to take ꦯpart in the 552nd birth anniversary 𝔉celebrations of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.
The pilgrims used the Kartarpur Corridor on the third day of the reopening of the route which was suspended for some 20 months following the COVID-19 outbreak in March. Over 2,500 Sikhs from India, who arrived here through the Wagah border, and a large number of local pilgrims participated in the ceremony.Celebrations also included the ‘Nagar Kirtan’ procession and a ‘Palki’ procession was taken out from Janamasthan which was moved to the other eight gurdwarওas in Nankana Sahib. Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Noorul Haq Qadri was the chief guest at the ceremony in Nankana Sahib. Langar (community feast) was arranged for all pilgrims, as dozens of Sikh women chopped vegetables, kneaded flour, and made bread in the gurdwara kitchens. Kar Seva is considered a religious duty in the Sikh faith.
At Kartarpur, Bibi Jagir Kaur, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), along with a delegation visited the temple. “A total of 242 Indians, including deputy chief minister of Punjab and Jagir Kaur, visited Kartarpur Sahab today,” Kartarpur Corridor Project Management Unit chief executive officer Muhammad Latif told reporters.
Opposition Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhಌutto Zardari said in a statement that it was the late Benazir Bhutto who had first given the proposal of building a visa-free Kartarpur Corridor. “Today we need more interfaith harmony,” Bilawal said and welcomed Sikhs in Pakistan on this occasion.
“Wishing 552nd Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti to all Sikhs around the world. On this auspicious occasion, we welcome thousands of Sikhs to visit their religious sites in Pakistan. 🌞I reiterate my govt’s commitmen☂t to continue facilitating them to perform their religious rituals,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet.
In November 2019, Prime Ministe𒉰r Imran Khan had formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor as part of the commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nana♏k in a colorful ceremonial celebration, paving the way for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit one of their religion's holiest sites in Pakistan without needing a visa.
With PTI Inputs
