Pakistan has granted over 6,500 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for the upcoming Baisakhi festival, as announced by the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi on Monday.
The festival, which marks the start of the Sikh New Year and celebrates the spring harvest, is observed mainly in Punjab and northern India. It symbolises spiritual renewal and holds immense significance for the Sikh community.
The primary focus of this year’s celebrations will be at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, located about 45 kilometres northwest of Islamabad. Sikh pilgrims are also expected to visit other revered sites such as Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib during their visit, which is scheduled to take place from April 10 to April 19.
Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in New Delhi emphasised that the issuance of such a large number of visas reflects the country’s commitment to fostering harmony and promoting mutual understanding between different cultures, peoples, and religions. He further assured that Pakistan would continue to support visits to these sacred sites, contributing to greater spiritual connection and dialogue.
The Panja Sahib shrine is especially significant to Sikhs due to a rock believed to bear the handprint of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Baisakhi also commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, symbolising spiritual awakening and dedication. The facilitation of these visits follows the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, allowing Indian Sikh pilgrims to travel to Pakistan for religious observances.
