Lahore, Today, a group of 2,400 Indian Sikh pilgrims crossed the Wagah Border into Lahore to begin celebrations for Khalsa Janam-din and Vaisakhi Mela 2024, two of the most significant events in the Sikh calendar.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the pilgrims were warmly received by notable figures including Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and Rana Shahid Saleem, Additional Secretary Shrines. The welcome party also included prominent Sikh leaders such as Sardar Mampal Singh, Sardar Tara Singh, and Satwant Kaur.

Kulvant Singh, the group leader, and Amarjit Singh, the deputy party leader, expressed their appreciation for the hospitality provided by the government of Pakistan and the Evacuee Trust Property Board. They highlighted the spiritual importance of visiting significant Sikh shrines in Pakistan, underscoring the deep cultural and religious connections that draw Sikh pilgrims to these sacred sites.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board has ensured comprehensive arrangements for the pilgrims’ security, health care, and comfort, under the oversight of board Chairman Arshad Farid Khan. The Gurudwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, one of the primary venues for the celebrations, has been festively decorated, mirroring the joyous mood of the occasion.

Festivities are set to peak with the main event of the Vaisakhi Mela on April 14 at Gurudwara Panja Sahib, followed by events at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, among other significant locations. The 10-day pilgrimage will conclude on April 22, after which the pilgrims will return to India.