New Delhi: Ahead of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Purab, the Indian government has allowed only four out of nine Sikh groups to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, officials said. The remaining five groups have not received permission to take their devotees across the border.
The four permitted groups include the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Haryana Committee, and the District Gurdwara Management Committee, Jammu. These organizations are authorized to lead their respective groups to Nankana Sahib.
On the other hand, Bhai Mardana Memorial Kirtan Society, Sri Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatri Jatha, SSukhmani Sahib Society Mandi Dabbwali, Khalra Mission Committee, and UP Sikh Management Board were not granted permission to take their groups to Pakistan this year.
Typically, around 3,000 devotees travel to Pakistan for the occasion annually. The four approved groups will take approximately 1,800 devotees, while the remaining five groups have about 1,200 devotees waiting for approval.
Reports indicate that the groups denied permission have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking authorization. The permitted jathas are scheduled to depart for Pakistan on November 4, 2025.