Lahore, November 21
A contingent of 3,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims arrived here today by three special trains to participate in the 535th birth anniversary celebrations of the founder of Sikhism — Guru Nanak.
The pilgrims were received at the Wagah railway station by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), officials said.
On November 24, the pilgrims will proceed to the Nankana Sahib to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. They will also pay obeisance at Gurdawara Dera Sahib here.
Apart from India, a large number of Sikhs from across the world, particularly from the US and the UK, are converging at the Nankana Sahib to participate in the
celebrations.
Stringent security arrangements are in place for the celebrations. The Indian Sikh pilgrims will return home on November 30.
According to reports here, Sikh pilgrims from the UK had to face extreme problems in getting the visa for Pakistan to attend the celebrations.
Mr Balwant Singh Waraich, a Sikh leader visiting Pakistan, said Pakistani Consulates in Birmingham and Manchester were not cooperating with the pilgrims regarding issuance of visa.
— UNI
