Sikh pilgrims arrive in Pakistan for Baisakhi festival

Islamabad, Apr 12 (UNI) Some 4,000 Indian Sikhs, wearing colourful turbans, arrived at the Wagah station to participate in a three-day Baisakhi festival beginning today.

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) received them at the Wagah station last evening.

They were showered with rose petals amidst drumbeat and dancing horses. They were also offered lunch and drinks by PSGPC President Sardar Bishan Singh and ETPB officials.

The Indian pilgrims will visit various sacred places during their stay in the Punjab, including Nankana Sahib, Sacha Sauda, Kartarpur Sahib, Rohri Sahib and Gurdawara Punja Sahib.

The Baisakhi festival is celebrated to renew the pledge for promoting harmony and brotherhood as enshrined in Sikhism in the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, the last guru of the Sikh faith.

Pilgrims come to Pakistan from across the world every year to celebrate the festival while Sikhs visit Gurdawara Panja Sahib at Hassanabdal, where the 10th guru, Guru Govind Singh, settled around 300 years ago to preach Sikhism. The pilgrims arrived at Wagah by three trains.

UNI XC SLD MIR KP1909