Today, a religious procession (Nagar Kirtan) of Sikh devotees from India started off their spiritual journey from New Delhi to the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak, founder of Sikh religion, in Nankana Sahib, a sacred city in Pakistan, says a press release received here today from New Delhi.
The Nagar Kirtan is led by Sardar Paramjit Singh Sarna, former president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), and includes representatives from different sections of the Sikh community in India.
This morning, the Nagar Kirtan was seen off by several Indian notables including the Chief Minister of Delhi. Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Syed Haider Shah also attended the seeing off ceremony as a special guest. The Nagar Kirtan via Ludhiana and Amritsar would be crossing over to Pakistan on 31 October 2019 through Wagah border.
This Nagar Kirtan from India is being welcomed by Pakistan as a special gesture this year on the auspicious occasion of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. Around 1300 visas issued for the Nagar Kirtan are over and above the Jatha covered under the “Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines-1974” between Pakistan and India.
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) with the support of the Government of Pakistan has prepared a detailed program, spanning over a week, for the visiting devotees for performing different religious rituals at holy Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan, particularly Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib.
In accordance with the historic initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan to open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, to be inaugurated on 9 November 2019, for Sikhs and other Naamlevas of Baba Guru Nanak, this year, Pakistan has facilitated visits of a number of Sikh Jathas not only from India but across the globe. A special Jatha led by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and DSGMC visited Nankana Sahib, Pakistan from 30 July-01 August 2019 to kick-start the celebrations of the 550th Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.
To facilitate the 550th Anniversary celebrations, Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi will issue additional visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims above the 3,000 limit allowed under the bilateral Protocol for their visit to Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan, from 5-14 November 2019.
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