Pilgrims to celebrate Baisakhi at historic Gurudwaras
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 11: Chanting the popular religious slogan ‘Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Shri Akaal’, a group of about 150-155 Sikh pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory left for the popular Nankana Sahib and other historic Gurudwaras in Pakistan to pay obeisance there during the upcoming Baisakhi festival on April 13 this year.
After travelling some 250 km in two buses and some personal vehicles, these devotees reached the popular Wagah border in Amritsar (Punjab) from where they continued their onward journey inside Pakistan after crossing the dividing line drawn between India and Pakistan many decades back when the Islamic Republic was carved out of India.
Manjeet Singh, 60, the bus driver who dropped these pilgrims at Wagah Border informed that they left in two different buses one carrying 43 and other 44 pilgrims and the buses departed from Gurudwara Baba Fateh Singh Ji, Gandhi Nagar on April 9, 2026 in evening hours.
“We visited Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple in Amritsar) at 2.30 am and after the pilgrims paid obeisance there, all of us proceeded towards Wagah Border and reached there by 7 in the morning next day. I dropped the pilgrims there from where they continued their onward journey,” he said.
“After that I returned Jammu and will again visit the Wagah Border to pick those pilgrims on their return,” the driver stated.
Terming these pilgrims as lucky and blessed, Inder Singh Soodan, 64, of Nanak Nagar, a former Councillor of Jammu Municipal Corporation, said that he too wishes to perform the pilgrimage next year at the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (first Guru of Sikhs).
“I along with my family, friends and other loved ones have obtained our passports for the purpose,” he maintained adding: “However, now I am leaving for Nangali Sahib Gurudwara in the border district of Poonch to celebrate Baisakhi there.”
District Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu president, Ranjit Singh Tohra could not be contacted for comments.
When contacted, Balvinder Singh, DGPC Jammu vice president informed that the 10 day pilgrimage is historic during which the pilgrims pay obeisance at all the historic Gurudwaras in Pakistan like Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib etc.
He said that Sikh organisations at other side of the border and the Pakistan government facilitates the visiting pilgrimage on their soil.
When contacted over phone, Shamsher Singh Chowhalvi, 76, who is looking after the affairs of the pilgrimage since the year 2000, informed that this time about 155 devotees have left for the grand congregation in Pakistan.
“We applied to the concerned ministry for 179 visas but only 176 were granted of which about 150-155 devotees have left for the pilgrimage,” he said.
Thanking the Almighty for granting him the “Sewa” to serve the pilgrims, he said: “Wahe Guru Ji Di Kirpa Nal Saal 2000 Tu Asi Aeh Seva Kar Rahe Han (with the grace of God, we have been serving the devotees for this pilgrimage from the year 2000).”
Chowhalvi further said that the pilgrimage takes place twice a year-on Baisakhi and on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and so far he along with Paramjit Singh have helped thousands of devotees to perform the revered pilgrimage.
“I myself have performed the pilgrimage for about 8-10 times and found that the management committees and the Board managing the pilgrimage in Pakistan warmly receives us and facilitates the pilgrims properly. The public also deal with our pilgrims very well,” he maintained adding: “The Committee concerned in Pakistan facilitates the visiting pilgrims with food and accommodation at the Gurudwaras there and when the pilgrims have to move from one Gurudwara to another, buses are provided by these Committees and under tight security the pilgrims are moved.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
