Historic Baisakhi: Over 6,700 Sikh Pilgrims Cross into Pakistan, Thank Govt for Warm Welcome

In a landmark moment for Sikh pilgrims and cross-border religious harmony, more than 6,700 Indian Sikh pilgrims crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan on Thursday to participate in the annual Baisakhi Mela and commemorate the 326th anniversary of the Khalsa Panth, founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. This year marks the first time in half a century that Pakistan has issued 6,751 visas to Indian Sikh devotees, a gesture that has been warmly welcomed by the global Sikh community.

Typically, under the 1974 Pakistan-India Religious Protocol Agreement, up to 3,000 Sikh pilgrims are permitted to visit Pakistan during major religious festivals. However, this year, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, in coordination with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), made a special request to grant an additional 3,751 visas—a move that has been described as unprecedented and deeply appreciated.

Celebrating Faith and Culture

The pilgrims, hailing from Amritsar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and 11 other Indian states, arrived to take part in Baisakhi Mela, which holds immense religious and cultural significance in Sikhism. The main ceremony will take place on April 14 at the revered Gurdwara Janamasthan in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Welcoming the pilgrims at the Wagah Border were Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interfaith Harmony Khel Das Kohistani, Punjab Minorities Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, and senior officials from ETPB, including Secretary Farid Iqbal and Additional Secretary Shrines Saifullah Khokhar.

A Message of Gratitude and Peace

Daljeet Singh Sarna, a prominent leader of the Gurdwara Management Committee, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Pakistani government for extending this generous gesture. “The issuance of visas to such a large number of pilgrims for the first time has won the hearts of the Sikh community,” Sarna told reporters at the Wagah border.

Veinder Singh Khalsa, the Jatha leader from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, also praised the hospitality and respect shown by Pakistan. “Pakistan is a peace-loving country, and Sikhs from all over the world wish to visit it because of the immense honour they receive here,” he said.

This year’s pilgrimage has not only strengthened spiritual ties but also renewed hope for cross-border unity and mutual respect. As the pilgrims begin their journey across Punjab, they carry with them not only prayers and offerings but also the message of peace, brotherhood, and shared heritage.

PTI.