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Sikh pilgrims gesture as they return from the Gurdwara Darbar Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan after paying their respect on the occasion of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak's birth anniversary at the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, some 25km from Batala on November 17, 2021. Image Credit: AFP
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Islamabad: Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from around the world have arrived in Pakistan to celebrate the 552nd birth anniversary of their religion’s founder, Baba Guru Nanak. The 10-day celebration began on Wednesday in Nankana Sahib district, the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak, in Punjab province of Pakistan.

Over 8,000 Sikh pilgrims are expected to arrive from UK, Canada and India to attend one of the main festivals of Sikhism in Pakistan.

Pilgrims cross into Pakistan at the India-Pakistan Wagah border to attend celebrations on the occasion of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak's birth anniversary on November 17, 2021. Image Credit: AFP
Pilgrims crossing the India-Pakistan Wagah border. Image Credit: AFP
The Sikh guests will visit their holy sites in different parts of Punjab, including Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. Image Credit: AFP
This November marks the second anniversary of the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, known as the “corridor of peace”, which allows visa-free access to the Sikh pilgrims from India. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, 2019. Image Credit: AFP
Sikh pilgrims hold their passports before going to the Gurdwara Darbar Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. Image Credit: AFP
Devotees offers prayers as they look towards the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib at the Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor some 25Km from Batala. Image Credit: AFP
Pilgrims commence their journey to Pakistan to take part in the celebrations. Image Credit: ANI
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“The Sikh pilgrims will directly go to Nankana Sahib, where the main birth anniversary celebration will be held on Friday,” said Amir Hashim, the spokesman for Evacuee Trust Property Board which manages religious places of Sikh and Hindu communities. Pakistan has finalised all arrangements for the pilgrims who will be provided special facilities such as food and lodging and full security, he added.

Pakistan warmly welcomes Sikh devotees from India and around the world arriving for Baba Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations from Nov. 17-26, 2021, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

The Sikh guests will visit their holy sites in different parts of Punjab, including Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.

Pakistan is home to some of the holiest Sikh sites and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is believed to have been built on the site in Pakistan’s Narowal district where Guru Nanak breathed his last in the 16th century.

Sikh pilgrims arrive from India

Nearly 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from neighbouring India will also take part in the celebrations after the Indian government allowed them to travel to Pakistan on Nov. 16 following requests from the Sikh community and the Pakistan government. They will be arriving at two main border crossings from India at Wagah and Kartarpur.

The 4.5-km long Kartarpur Corridor, which connects Pakistan and India, remained shut for three months during the peak pandemic days but Pakistan reopened its side of the corridor on June 29, 2020.

Kartarpur Corridor

This November marks the second anniversary of the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, known as the “corridor of peace”, which allows visa-free access to the Sikh pilgrims from India. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, 2019.

“The magnificent newly built Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur complex was a gift by the people of Pakistan and their leadership to the Sikh community in India and worldwide.” The corridor has opened new vistas for the promotion of interfaith harmony allowing India’s Sikh community special access to one of their holiest sites, PM Khan said earlier in a tweet.