Indian Sikhs fly to Lahore for Guru Nanak birth anniversary

"I am excited," said Sattender Jeet, an Indian Sikh on her first visit to Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, her spiritual leader and founder of her religion.

Jeet is accompanied by her pre-teen daughter and husband, and she is among the more than 10,000 Sikhs from around the globe converging on a shrine in Pakistan called Nanakana Sahib, about 50 km from Lahore.

She and her husband had gone to the Pakistani consulate to get their visas. "Many got their papers through the temple," she said. The Sikh temples in Dubai also helped arrange for the papers.

From the UAE, 42 Sikhs boarded the PIA flight to Lahore yesterday and Pakistan's national carrier was apparently under orders from Islamabad to facilitate the journey of the pilgrims.

This is the second time Joginder Singh, a businessman in Dubai, will be going to Pakistan for the celebrations. "We got the visas from the (Pakistan) consulate very easily," he said.

His companion, Pritham Singh, proudly shows the Pakistan visa stamped on his Indian passport.

Joginder with his flowing white beard and turban stood out in the crowd of Pakistani passengers. But the Sikh women blended in easily with their shalwar-kameez dress, which both Indian and Pakistani women wear.

The birth anniversary celebrations, known as Guru Nanak Jayanti, will be marked by reading of the Granth Sahib, from beginning to end, without a break at the shrine of the founder of Sikhism.

Ammanullah Larik, Pakistan Consul General in Dubai, said every year a number of Indian Sikhs are given visas on instructions from Islamabad. There is no checking or other formalities and the validity of the visa is one month.

Aqil Bin Sharif, PIA station manager, said a separate counter was opened for the pilgrims and all facilities provided so that they felt comfortable. He said many Sikhs will also be crossing over by road through the Wagah border.

Mohammed Arshad, passenger sales manager, said the pilgrims will be back in Dubai on November 11.

HISTORY

Remembrance Day celebrations
• Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in Talwandi in the present district of Shekhupura, Pakistan.

• His shrine (Gurdwara) is called Gurdwara Janam Asthan. Sikhs from all over the world gather there and celebrate the Gurupurab (Guru's Remembrance Day) every year.

• His birthday is known as Guru Nanak Jayanti.