On Sunday, a significant congregation of nearly 3,000 Sikh pilgrims arrived in Lahore from India through the Wagah Border to participate in the celebrations marking the 554th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the revered founder of Sikhism.
Pakistan holds special significance for the Sikh community as it is considered the birthplace of their religion, with Guru Nanak born in 1469 in Nankana Sahib, a village near Lahore. The white-domed shrine in Kartarpur, just four kilometers inside Pakistan, holds particular reverence as the site where Guru Nanak is believed to have passed away.
The opening of a border crossing in November 2019 marked a historic moment of cooperation between India and Pakistan, allowing visa-free access from India to Kartarpur. This move, amidst the often-hostile relationship between the two nuclear-armed nations, facilitated pilgrimages for Sikhs to their holy sites.
During their 10-day sojourn in Pakistan, the Sikh pilgrims have planned visits to various sacred sites, including Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal, Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, Gurudwara Rohri Sahib Aimenabad, and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal. The main ceremony is scheduled at Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib on Monday.
Sikhism, originating in the 15th century in the Punjab region, which now spans India and Pakistan, is characterized by Guru Nanak’s teachings emphasizing equality.
Following the religious violence triggered by the partition in 1947, millions of Sikhs migrated to India, leaving an estimated 20,000 Sikhs in Pakistan today. The pilgrimage and celebrations serve as a testament to the enduring cultural and religious ties between the Sikh community and the historical roots of their faith in Pakistan.
