Over 200 Sikh pilgrims from India are scheduled to arrive at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal on June 24 to participate in rituals in connection with the 184th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Singh ruled over Punjab in the 19th century and was the first maharaja of the Sikh Empire.
Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETBP) officials said arrangements for boarding and lodging of pilgrims had been made, adding that the main ceremony and the concluding ceremony (Bhog) would be held at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on June 29.
Responding to a question, he said that the contingent of Indian Sikh pilgrims will leave for Pakistan on June 21, as the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi has issued visas for 205 aspirant pilgrims.
"During their three-day stay at the Sikh shrine in Hassanabdal from June 21 to June 26, the pilgrims will perform different rituals," an official said, adding that foolproof security arrangements would be made in collaboration with the district administration and law enforcement agencies.
He said that the pilgrims would leave for Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore on June 26.
"On June 29, they will partake in the main religious ceremony at Gurdwara Dera Sahib at Maharaja Ranjit Singh's tomb, before heading back to India on June 30," the official added.
Responding to a question, an ETPB official said that pilgrims would also visit other Sikh shrines, including Gurdwara Rohri Sahib Eminabad, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Farooqabad and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.
It may be mentioned that pilgrims come to Pakistan twice during the month of June as during the first week, they offer rituals in connection with the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji also known as Jore Mela and they return back through Wagah border crossing on
June 17 and second during the last week of the month to offer religious rituals in connection with the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Source: Dawn0 COMMENTS
