Amritsar: A delegation of Sikh pilgrims departed from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) headquarters in Amritsar this morning to visit historic Sikh shrines in Pakistan. The religious journey marks the death anniversary of the legendary Sikh emperor, “Sher-e-Punjab” Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Before the departure of the group, a traditional Ardas was performed in accordance with religious customs, and the pilgrims were seen off with warm wishes amid immense enthusiasm among the travelers and their families.
According to data shared by the SGPC, visa applications for 302 pilgrims were submitted to the authorities this year, out of which 290 individuals successfully secured visas for Pakistan. The entire group of visa recipients has embarked on the journey to pay obeisance at various shrines of immense historical and spiritual importance across the border. The delegation is scheduled to conclude their religious pilgrimage and return to India on June 30.
Before starting their journey, the pilgrims expressed deep gratitude and joy at the opportunity to visit holy sites closely tied to their faith and heritage. Surinderpal Singh Sidki, a member of the jatha, noted that every devout Sikh harbors a lifelong desire to bow their head at the sacred shrines connected to the Sikh Gurus and great historical figures. He shared that his family had been eagerly waiting for this opportunity for a long time, making the departure a moment of immense happiness, and commended the SGPC and related administrative bodies for making highly organized arrangements for the smooth execution of the tour.
