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Sunday, November 17, 2013
Over 2,300 arrive in city for Baba Guru Nanak’s birthdayStaff Report
LAHORE: More than 2,300 Sikh pilgrims have arrived in the city to perform rituals in connection with the 545th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in Nankana Sahib.
The first batch of pilgrims from India arrived in Lahore on Friday via train and it was received by acting chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Sikandar Ismail Khan.
The second batch of 104 Sikh pilgrims reached here on Saturday.
The pilgrims spent a busy day in the city on Saturday and visited several places, including temples, Badshahi Masjid, Naulakha bazaar, Azam Market, Temple Road and Liberty area.
The government says it has provided full security cover to the visitors. A medical camp was also established at Wagah Railway Station while pilgrims were also offered meals there.
Talking to the media, a Sikh delegation leader said that pilgrims would perform their religious rituals with simplicity due to the ongoing month of Muharram.
"Our religious leader Guru Nanak had always given a message of peace, brotherhood, harmony and love," he added.
Charanjit Singh Nanda, a pilgrim, told Daily Times that he was in Pakistan for the first time to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. He said that he would also visit Nicholson Road to see Nanda Building where his grandfather had lived before Partition of the Subcontinent. He also praised Pakistani authorities for extending the pilgrims a warm welcome.
Another Indian citizen from Kolkata, Suknandar Singh, said that he had come to Pakistan along with his family to participate in the birth anniversary of the great Sikh religious leader. He appealed to governments of the two countries to soften the visa policy for pilgrims on both sides of the border.
"Both nations should spread the message of harmony and peace," he added. Railway Police SP Muhammad Sultan Abro told Daily Times that the force has made a "comprehensive security plan" to provide "foolproof security" to Sikh pilgrims. He added that around 200 Railway Police officials, Rangers and men from the Bomb Disposal Squad were on duty the Wagah Railway Station.
He said that 26 police officials had been deployed in each pilgrim train under the supervision of an inspector.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk