The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birthday Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji to be held in Pakistan from 14-23 November 2024.
Expressing his views on the occasion, Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Saad Ahmad Warraich, extended his heartfelt felicitations and wished the pilgrims a fulfilling yatra.
Guru Nanak Jayanti, on November 14/15, 2024, celebrates the 555th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji, honoring his teachings of equality, humility, and selfless service.
Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most significant festivals in Sikhism.
Known as Kartik Purnima in the Hindu lunar calendar, it falls on the full moon day of the Kartik month.
This day is a time for Sikhs and followers around the world to honor Guru Nanak's teachings, which focus on equality, humility, selfless service, and devotion to God. Guru Nanak Dev Ji's messages are timeless, emphasizing universal love, compassion, and unity.
His teachings are encapsulated in the Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism.
Guru Nanak Jayanti, or Gurpurab, is observed with great devotion and reverence by Sikhs and devotees worldwide. The celebration usually spans three days, involving a series of rituals and customs:
Akhand Path: A continuous, uninterrupted reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, lasting 48 hours, is performed in Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) as a form of worship and respect for Guru Nanak's teachings.
Nagar Kirtan:
A vibrant and joyous procession called Nagar Kirtan is organized a day before Guru Nanak Jayanti. Devotees, led by five beloved Sikhs known as the Panj Pyare, parade through the streets, singing hymns and spreading Guru Nanak's teachings. The procession includes the holy Guru Granth Sahib and displays martial arts performances by the Sikh martial artists, known as Gatka.
Prabhat Pheris:
Early morning processions, known as Prabhat Pheris, are also held. Devotees gather before dawn and go around their neighborhoods singing devotional songs, reciting scriptures, and sharing the message of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
In 2019, India and Pakistan inaugurated Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. It was a major milestone for Sikhs.
However, certain questions were raised around the time.
Indian Govt on Wednesday, Nov 6, 2019, said it does not see agreeing to the Kartarpur project as a 'mistaken decision' and rather considers it to be a 'corridor of peace and an instrument to move ahead' in establishing a peaceful and harmonious relationship with Pakistan.
Those in the know of things say India's security establishment is "very very conscious" of the pitfalls as there have been 'sporadic reports' of Sikhs radicalisation in the Gurudwaras there.
To a question, the source said having sat over the project for 19 years, since August 2018, the Pakistan government took up the Kartarpur project with some kind of a 'military zeal'.
"It was done with great deal of enthusiasm....," the source said, adding that it ought to be appreciated that
the Kartarpur project survived two major bilateral crisis - the Pulwama terror strike and also the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
"There were escalated rhetoric on everything else but the Kartarpur corridor survived.
That only shows that power larger than the popular government and the civil leadership in Pakistan has been pushing it," the source maintained.
Against this backdrop the source clarified - "We are doing everything to ensure that there is security compromise".
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