Adil Najam
More than 10,000 Sikh yatrees from India, Europe and North America converged on Nankana Sahib on Sunday to celebrate the 538th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, and the first of its ten Gurus. This was reportedly the largest Sikh gathering at Nankana Sahib since 1947.
Earlier in the week about 4000 pilgrims from India had arrived in Lahore on the train Samjhota Express to participate in the celebrations. Others arrived at Janam Isthan by the Amritsar-Nankana Punj Aab bus service. The pilgrims arrived at the Sacha Soda Gurdawara in 125 buses on Saturday morning and returned to Janam Isthan in the evening.
According to Amir Mir, writing in Gulf News (6 November, 2006):
Nankana Sahib, a sacred city for the Sikhs and located in the Pakistani province of Punjab, has come to life as nearly 10,000 Sikh pilgrims from India, Europe and America are attending the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. According to the chairman of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (PGPC) Sardar Mustan Singh… in an unprecedented gesture of goodwill, the Pakistan government had issued visas to more than 10,000 Sikh pilgrims from India, Europe and America to visit Pakistan and participate in the three-day celebrations of the birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak.
Sardar Mustan Singh said that free food is being provided to all the Sikh pilgrims and they have been provided accommodation by the Punjab government close to the Gurdwara Janam Asthan, the birthplace of Guru Nanak. The markets of Nankana Sahib have been specially decorated and special stalls were set up to feature traditional food and apparel and books and cassettes on Punjabi poetry and the Sikh religion.
Sikhs in other parts of Pakistan (see here for earlier post) also celebrated the occasion. For example, in Karachi, according to The News, “a large number of Sikh community members got together at Rama Sawami Temple, which is situated at M A Jinnah and performed their religious rituals there and at some other places like Ranchor Line and Kikri Ground.”
Hi ,
A very nice Article indeed, The sikhs have a proud history and ancestry in Pakistan and we share a very strong cultural,language and historic bond. I wish to travel to pakistan and visit some of my places of worship , and also see the rich history that exists in that region from which i hail (Nakai Family (maternal side) – Mudke , Nakai formerly in lahore , guess now in Kasur district.
Hi,
It is great site impressed with contents, add few more pictures of Gurudwara Sahib & sroundings
DEARS
IM MUSLIM, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION TO THE ALL PAKISTANI MUSLIM AND SIKHS. PLEASE SOME ONE LET ME KNOW GURU NANAK IN NANKANA SAHIB THEY HAVE LOUD SPEAKERS OR NOT…OR GOVT. ALLOW THEM OR NOT PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF SOMEONE HAS PIC. WITH LOUD SPEAKER WHICH SHOW THEY HAS..
Hello Friends,
I wonder if anyone can answer my question here. I live in lahore and if i want to visit the samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit singh and the Holy place of Guru Arjun Dev wat is the proper procidure? I have visited Badshahi Masjid and Lahore Fort many times but I dont know if any Pakistanis are allowed to enter the Samadhi or is there any way I can get permission?
Please feel free to reply me at my email adress
papa_bare191@yahoo.com
Regards