Over 2,200 Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Pak for Baisakhi celebrations

Over 2,200 Sikh pilgrims from India crossed into Pakistan on Friday through the Attari-Wagah border to participate in Baisakhi celebrations and the 327th Khalsa Janam Din at major Sikh shrines across Punjab(Pakistan).

The pilgrims were received at the border by Pakistan Punjab Minority Minister Ramesh Singh Arora and officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) , along with representatives of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Officials said elaborate arrangements for accommodation, langar, transport, medical care and security had been made.

According to officials, Pakistan issued over 2,800 visas for Indian Sikh pilgrims this year, with participants also arriving from other countries, taking total expected attendance at the festival to several thousand devotees.

However, fresh reports confirmed that more than 130 pilgrims were stopped at the Indian side of the border after failing to obtain mandatory security clearance from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs under the 1974 Indo-Pak pilgrimage protocol . Authorities said only those cleared through official jatha lists were allowed to proceed, reflecting tightened screening measures.

The pilgrims who successfully crossed were divided into groups and transported to key religious sites, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib , where many stayed for a two-day visit before moving on to other destinations.

The main Baisakhi ceremony will be held on April 14 at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal , one of the most significant Sikh shrines in Pakistan. Pilgrims will also visit Kartarpur Sahib and other historic gurdwaras associated with Guru Nanak.

The visiting delegation, organised under the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) , appreciated the hospitality extended by Pakistani authorities. Officials confirmed that foolproof security arrangements, transport buses, and medical facilities had been deployed for the duration of the pilgrimage.

Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, marks the Sikh New Year and harvest festival , and is observed with large gatherings at sacred shrines across the region.