:dateline:After being barred by the Indian government to visit Pakistan based Sikh shrines consecutively for two times, the Sikh pilgrims are likely to get nod to celebrate the 548th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. Notably, the birth anniversary celebrations are beginning at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib from November 2 onwards.
It may be recalled here that earlier on the eve of martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and the death anniversary of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June, Sikh pilgrims were denied clearance by the Indian government for security reasons as the situation between India and Pakistan was tensed at that time.
Speaking to Sikh24 on October 25, SGPC Additional Secretary Partap Singh informed that the SGPC has sent passports of 850 Sikh devotees to Pakistan Consulate in New Delhi for getting visa stamped for the birth anniversary celebrations. He expressed hope that the Sikh jatha would get nod from Indian government this time and the Sikh devotees will depart for Sri Nankana Sahib on November 2 via Attari railway station.
Unlike the pilgrimage of past years, the Sikh pilgrims this time will be directly boarded to Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib. An Akhand Path Sahib will be laid in the evening hours of November 2 on the arrival of Sikh pilgrims at Sri Nankana Sahib which will be culminated on November 4. The Sikh devotees will be sent to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib (Lahore) on November 5 and from November 7 to 10 they will be taken to different Sikh shrines situated in the West Punjab (Pakistan). On November 11, the Sikh devotees will return back to Punjab via Attari Railway station.
