ISLAMABAD: The 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikh religion, began in the eastern Pakistani city of Nankana Sahib on Monday, Pakistani state media reported.
The Pakistan High Commission has issued more than 2,100 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to participate in the celebrations in the first major allowance after travel between India and Pakistan was frozen during their four-day conflict in May.
Indian newspapers reported on Saturday that the government would allow “selected” groups to travel for the festival as tensions remain high between New Delhi and Islamabad since the standoff that killed more than 70 people on both sides.
Tens of thousands of Sikh pilgrims are expected to flock to Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak some 85 kilometers (52 miles) west of the country’s border with India.
“During their pilgrimage, the Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims) will pay homage at Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported on Sunday.
