346 Sikh Pilgrims Depart for Pakistan to Attend Maharaja Ranjit Singh Anniversary Congregation

A jatha of 346 Sikh pilgrims crossed the Attari-Wagah border on Sunday to visit Pakistan for the annual death anniversary congregation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh , the founder of the Sikh Empire, officials said.

The pilgrims will participate in the main religious congregation at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal near Lahore and pay obeisance at several historic Sikh shrines across Pakistan during the week-long pilgrimage.

According to officials of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) , the pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Sahib at Mandi Chuharkana, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib , the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore, Gurdwara Rori Sahib in Eminabad, and Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib before returning to India on June 30.

The SGPC said it arranged assistance for immigration formalities, transportation, langar, and other facilities at the Attari border. Copies of holy Gutka Sahibs , along with religious articles including kanghas, karhas, kirpans, shawls, and tea , were also sent with the pilgrims.

The pilgrimage was jointly sponsored by the SGPC , Haryana Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HGPC) , and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Board (DSGMB) .

The annual pilgrimage holds special significance for Sikhs worldwide as it commemorates Maharaja Ranjit Singh , the revered 19th-century ruler who unified Punjab and established the Sikh Empire. His death anniversary is traditionally observed at Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore, located near the site of his samadhi, drawing devotees from India and abroad to pay tribute to his legacy and contributions to Sikh history.