India sends ‘palki’ and holy scriptures to Pakistan for Guru Nanak’s 555th birth anniversary

To commemorate the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, a magnificently built ‘palki’ (palanquin) and six ‘saroops’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were sent to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border.

The ‘palki’, made of special steel, was crafted by artisans from Patiala and weighed over two quintals. Nirol Sewa Organisation undertook the ‘sewa’ (service) of the ‘palki’, while the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) presented the holy scriptures.

With constant recitation of ‘Satnam Waheguru’, the ‘palki’ and ‘saroops’ were taken to the zero line, maintained by SGPC as per the Sikh “rehat maryada”. The SGPC-sponsored Sikh jatha crossed over through Attari-Wagah joint check post, heading to Janam Asthan Sri Nankana Sahib.

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) representatives received the ‘palki’ and ‘saroops’ at the Wagah border.

Dr Jagdeep Singh Sodhi, president of Nirol Sewa Organisation, said PSGPC was informed about the ‘palki’ presentation on November 14 and necessary permission formalities were procured in advance.

This is not the first time Nirol Sewa Organisation has presented a ‘palki’; they had previously gifted one to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

“When the palki was ready I had informed the president of PSGPC president Ramesh Singh Arora. He further approached the SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to assist in facilitating the transportation of palki across the border. After the permissions were procured, our members successfully handed over the palki to the PSGPC representatives at the zero line of Attari-Wagah border”, he said.

Dr Jagdeep said that it was not the first time his organisation had presented ‘palki’ to Gurdwara Kartapur Sahib earlier, too.