Amritsar: A total of 541 Sikh devotees have received visas to travel to Pakistan for paying obeisance at historic gurdwaras and participating in events marking the martyrdom anniversary of the fifth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The pilgrimage group, organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), will depart for Pakistan on June 10 from the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar.
Sharing details, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Secretary of the SGPC’s Dharam Prachar Committee, said that 561 passport applications had been submitted to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Of these, visas were granted to 541 pilgrims, while 20 applicants did not receive clearance.
He said the main religious programme commemorating Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom will be held in Pakistan on June 18. The pilgrimage group will visit various historic Sikh shrines across Pakistan and participate in religious ceremonies associated with the occasion before returning to India on June 19.
Mathrewal added that pilgrims who received visas have begun collecting their passports from the SGPC office. He assured that all necessary arrangements for the visit have been made by the SGPC and that efforts are being taken to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey for the devotees.
The devotees expressed happiness after receiving their visas, saying they had long wished to visit the historic Sikh shrines located in Pakistan. Many described the opportunity to pay respects at sites associated with the Sikh Gurus as a deeply spiritual and memorable experience.
The pilgrims will return to India through the Attari-Wagah border on June 19 after completing their visit and participating in the religious events. Enthusiasm and devotion among the devotees remain high as they prepare for the sacred journey.
