Guru Nanak's 468th death anniv in Pak on Sept 22

Lahore, Sept 3: The 468th death anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, will be observed between September 20 to 22 at Gurdawara Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal.

Shiromani Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) sources told the Daily Times that over 1,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims have applied for visas to visit Pakistan, and these were being processed.

They said 500 visas had been issued to the SGPC, 300 to Delhi Gurdawara Management Committee and a few to other organisations, including the Bhai Mardana Society and the Kar Sewa Committee.

They said all applicants had been issued visa by the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi without any difficulty from.

The celebrations will start on September 20 with a Akand Path Sahib (reading from the Holy Guru Granth Sahib) and will end on September 22 with the distribution of sweets among the pilgrims.

Pakistan Government sources said that necessary arrangements have already been made to facilitate visiting Sikh pilgrims from around the world, including those from Britain, Canada, the US, Malaysia and Dubai.

Sikh pilgrims are also expected to visit the Sucha Sauda, Panja Sahib, Dera Sahib and other gurudwaras.

Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in Talwandi, a village in Sheikhupura, now known as Nankana Sahib. As a boy he learnt regional languages, Persian and Arabic. The year 1496 is considered the year of his enlightenment when he began his mission.

Guru Nanak began his missionary tours with a low caste Muslim, Mardana, and rendered help to the weak and spread his message against caste system and idol worship.

He spent twenty-five years promoting his message of universal brotherhood and peace. His basic message was remember God, share with the needy and earn livelihood by honest means.

Guru Nanak died at Katarpur Sahib, a village between Shakargarh and Narowal in 1539, where a Gurdawara was built.

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