A Sikh Jatha has crossed over to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post, to mark the Shahidi Gurpurb of Guru Arjan Dev, while 78 members of the group were stopped by Indian authorities due to incomplete documentation.
According to Golden Temple Manager Rajinder Singh Ruby, who accompanied the Jatha, 518 pilgrims successfully crossed into Pakistan. Of those stopped, 67 belonged to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), and 11 were from Punjab.
The Jatha, led by SGPC members Gurmeet Singh Booh and Bhupinder Singh, was flagged off from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee office in the morning.
The group is scheduled to return on June 19. This is the first such Sikh Jatha in 14 years to participate in the religious congregation marking the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev in Lahore.
Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj said that since Guru Arjan Dev attained martyrdom in Lahore, it was important for the Khalsa Panth to gather there every year to pay respects.
He thanked both the Indian and Pakistani governments for facilitating the visit. Under the 1974 agreement between India and Pakistan, at least four Sikh Jathas travel to Pakistan every year for pilgrimage to Sikh shrines.
Chanting “Waheguru” and listening to Gurbani, the pilgrims proceeded to the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post.
As a special gesture, the Indian government opened the International Border with Pakistan — which had been closed since Operation Sindoor — to facilitate the pilgrimage. The Pakistani side also made necessary arrangements for the pilgrims.
Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, secretary of the Dharam Prachar Committee, felicitated the leaders of the Jatha with siropas.
Follow us
