NANKANA SAHIB – The Gurdwara Janamasthan on Wednesday echoed with “Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh and “Jo Bole so Nehal” during three-day 543rd birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Baba Gura Nanak Dev as it began on Tuesday.
Over 2,900 Sikh Yatrees from India and thousands of others from all over the world including America, Canada , UK, Europe, and from parts of Sindh have reached Nankana Sahib to participate in the celebrations which will continue till November 11.
Indian Yatrees led by Jatha Dar leaders Sardar Suran Singh Gill, Sardar Choubal Singh, Rampal Singh and Sardar Ram Singh reached the site by two special trains from India via Wahga Border Lahore.
They were warmly welcomed at Nankana Railways Station by District Coordination Officer Hassan Iqbal, Police Officer Haider Ashraf, ADC Mian Jameel Ahmad, Tehsil Municipal Officer Afzal, Senior administrator Riasat Ali. DA Malik Anwarul Haq, District Press Club president Asif Ali Bhatti, representatives of the Markazi Anjuman Tajraan and Executive Engineer Sheikh Kamran.
On the occasion, Sikh Yatrees thanked the Pakistan government for making appropriate arrangements and the facilities provided for the pilgrims, saying that Pakistan always offered warm welcome to them. They added that the culture, language, dresses, life style in both Indian and Pakistani Punjabs were the same and they were living in the same environment for decades. That’s why, they said, they considered both the provinces as brothers.
They said that Nankana Sahib is very important for Sikhs because the founder of the Sikhism was born here, adding that so Nankana Sahib is the most sacred place in the world for them. On the occasion, thousands of Sikh women, men and children wearing colourful dresses and men with yellow turbans were seen reciting the verses from the Guru Grunth, the holy book of the Sikhs. The Yatrees performed their religious ritual like Akhand Path, Mudh ki Ardas, Matha Teki, Ashnan. They will also perform their other rituals at Gurudwara Janamasthan. On Wednesday, they went to Gurudwara Sucha Soda Farooqabad to perform ritual “Matha Teki” and returned on the same day after noon. Furthermore, Nagar Keertar and Bhog (special Dua) will be offered on Thursday.
According to the Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak was born on April 15, 1469 in the month of Besakhi, therefore the festival is celebrated in Nankana Sahib every year. On conclusion of the festival in Nankana, on November 11, the pilgrims will go to Hasanabdaal.
They will also visit Gurudwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on 14th and would visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur Narowal on 16th and would return to india on 17th.
The ETPB in collaboration with the Pakistan Parbandhak Committee made arrangements of boarding, conveyance and food for the Yatrees. Moreover, the district police and other law inforcement agencies have made high security arrangements. The DPO said that approximately 1,500 police and Elite Force personnel including ladies had been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, Jathadar leaders Sardar Suran Singh Gill, Sardar Choubal Singh, Rampal Singh, Sardar Ram Singh and other Yatees told the media at the District Press Club that masses living both the sides of the border wanted peace and better relationship between India and Pakistan. They said that Sikh Yatrees consider Pakistan as their second home due to many holy places of the Sikhs. They said that the Sikh festival is a message of love, unity, harmony and peace. Every religion teaches us respecting humanity.
They welcomed declaring India the Most Favoured Nation by Pakistan. They hoped that both the countries would be able to resolve all the disput including the Kashmir dispute after awarding India the MFN status.
They expressed the hope that wars can’t resolve the problems nations but only table talk is the best way to find out solution to disputes.
Several banners to welcome the Sikhs were displayed on different roads by the district government, the TMA and Anjuman Tajraan.
News Source: The Nation
