Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrated in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Over 15,000 Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, India, Canada and other parts of the world Sunday celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, at his birthplace in Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib district.

The three-day celebrations at the Gurdwara Janam Asthan concluded Sunday with a special procession and recitation from the Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs.

Around 4,000 Sikhs arrived from India alone for the anniversary celebrations in Nankana Sahib, considered the most revered pilgrimage for Sikhs.

The visiting pilgrims appreciated the arrangements made for the occasion and said they felt at home.

Syed Asif Hashmi, chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, said all arrangements were made in coordination with the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

“We provided all facilities to our guests so that they could perform their religious duties without any hassles,” he said.

Tight security arrangements were made for the celebrations, in view of the security situation in the country. Several walk-through gates were erected and only those people were allowed who were carrying valid security passes.

The routes to Gurdwara Janam Asthan were sealed during the three-day celebrations and no outsider was allowed.

The Sikh pilgrims will also visit religious sites in Hasan Abdal, Aimen Abad and Lahore before returning to their respective countries Nov 29.

(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)