Amritsar— A large group of Sikh devotees, organized by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), will depart for Pakistan on November 4 through the Wagah border to participate in the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru, at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib.
According to SGPC officials, passports of devotees who have received visas are being distributed at the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar on October 31 and November 1. Special counters have been set up to ensure the process runs smoothly.
Out of 1,802 applicants, 1,796 have been granted visas by the Pakistan Embassy, while a few applications remain pending due to technical reasons.
The main religious programs will take place at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The devotees will attend special prayers, kirtan darbars, and ardas ceremonies organized to mark the occasion.
After participating in the celebrations, the jatha (group) will visit several other historic gurdwaras in Pakistan, including Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib, and Gurdwara Sakhi Sarwar Sahib. The delegation is scheduled to return to India on November 13 via the Wagah border.
SGPC Secretary Pratap Singh stated that all arrangements have been completed, including security, accommodation, and transportation for the pilgrims. He added that the committee’s teams will remain on duty throughout the visit to ensure devotees face no difficulties.