300 Indian Sikhs to attend Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary in Pak

Lahore, June 21 : A delegation of around 300 Indian Sikhs is scheduled to arrive in Lahore today to attend the 169th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who ruled the Punjab province for 40 years before passing away in 1839.

The Indian Sikhs will enter Pakistan via Wagah Border and will visit various gurdwaras in line with their schedule. They will stay at Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hassanabdal, till June 23. Later, they will visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, and stay there till June 25.

The main ceremony of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary will start at the Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore from June 27 to 29. The pilgrims will return to India on June 30, reported the Daily Times.

An official of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which looks after the interests of minority communities in Pakistan, said all arrangements of accommodation for the pilgrims had been made at various gurdwaras during their stay in the country.

Born in 1780 in Gujranwala, Maharaja Ranjit Singh succeeded his father at the age of 12. After several war campaigns, his rivals accepted him as their leader and he united the Sikh factions into one large state.

Ranjit Singh assumed the title of Maharaja on April 12, 1801.

Ranjit Singh's samadhi is in Lahore at the Gurdwara Dera Sahib and Sikhs visit Pakistan every year to attend his death anniversary.

ANI