In a significant development fostering religious and cross-border harmony, Pakistan has issued visas to 6,500 Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and other sacred sites for Vaisakhi celebrations. This marks a record number of visas granted for the annual pilgrimage, which holds immense spiritual importance in Sikhism.
Vaisakhi, celebrated in April every year, commemorates the formation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699. It is one of the most revered festivals in Sikhism and is observed with prayer, devotion, and community gatherings. For many pilgrims, visiting Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, during this time is a lifelong spiritual aspiration.
The visas were issued under the framework of the 1974 India-Pakistan Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which allows citizens from both countries to visit select religious places across the border. The issuance of such a large number of visas is seen as a positive step in sustaining people-to-people ties despite broader diplomatic challenges.
According to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, the pilgrims will visit several gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore, and Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, over the course of the 10-day pilgrimage. All necessary arrangements for accommodation, security, and transportation have reportedly been made by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
Indian officials welcomed the move, stating that such exchanges contribute to peaceful engagement between communities and keep spiritual and cultural connections alive. The pilgrims expressed joy and gratitude, calling it a golden opportunity to reconnect with their roots.
This record number of visas reaffirms the enduring faith and the unbroken spiritual link shared by the Sikh community across borders.
