NANKANA: The three-day celebrations of 554nd birth anniversary of founder of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak, are underway in Nankana Sahib for the second day on Sunday.
Sikh Yatrees will perform their religious rituals of Akhand Path, Shabad Kirtan, Ashnan and others at Gurdwara Janam Asthan. They will also perform the ritual of Matha Teki at Gurdwara Sacha Sauda today.
Sikh Yatrees from Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, India and other countries are very happy and busy performing their rituals. On the second day, the yatrees are performing their religious rituals, such as Akhand Path, Shabad Kirtan, and Ashnan and paying pilgrimage at the gurdwaras.
The Sikh guests from India have said that they are extremely happy to have reached Nankana Sahib. They will perform the Matha Teki ritual at Gurdwara Sacha Sauda today.
The pilgrims were transported to the gurdwara by buses under special police protection.
The Yatrees thanked the government of Pakistan for the arrangements. The Nankana district administration welcomed the Sikh pilgrims coming from abroad. The government has made special arrangements for the accommodation, food (langar) and transport of the Sikh pilgrims.
Earlier, around 3,000 Indian Sikh Yatrees reached Pakistan through Wagah Border crossing here on Saturday to participate in the 554th birth anniversary of Sikh religion founder Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Additional Secretary of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) (Shrines) Rana Shahid Saleem, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan Sardar Ameer Singh, committee members – Sardar Satwant Singh, Sardar Rawinder Singh and others warmly welcomed the yatrees.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Amritsar party leader Khushmindar Singh told the media on arrival to Pakistan that special love for Pakistanis compelled them to visit the country again and again.
He recalled that he had visited the sacred land of Pakistan three times, commenting that facilities and arrangements for pilgrims improved every time. He said that Sikh yatrees were contented with the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, adding, “We are grateful to the Pakistan government, particularly the ETPB, for making arrangements for protection of Gurdwaras in Pakistan.”
Additional Secretary (Shrines) Rana Shahid Saleem in his welcome address to the guests mentioned that the ETPB had made foolproof security arrangements besides accommodation and travelling facilities for Sikh pilgrims. Special marquees have also been installed and special buses arranged for pilgrims, he added.
