ID :
55004
Mon, 04/13/2009 - 07:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/55004
The shortlink copeid
Sikhs from India arrive in Lahore to celebrate Baisakhi
Lahore, Apr 11 (PTI) Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims from
India arrived here Saturday to participate in Baisakhi
celebrations during which they will also visit the birthplace
of founder of their faith Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib.
Sikhs arrived in this eastern Pakistani city to
participate in Baisakhi celebrations marking the end of the
wheat harvesting season at several holy sites.
A total of 180 Sikhs from India arrived in Lahore in
the first of several special trains, Evacuee Trust Property
Board media manager Jacolin Tressler said.
Indian authorities had informed the Board that another
1,500 Sikhs were on their way in more special trains, she told
PTI.
During their nine-day stay in Pakistan, the Sikhs will
visit Gurdwara Janamsthan at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of
Guru Nanak, Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, Gurdwara Saccha
Soda in Farooqabad and Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Aimanabad. They
will leave for India on April 20.
Officials of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak
Committee and the Evacuee Trust Property Board, which is
responsible for maintaining Sikh shrines, greeted the Sikh
yatris or pilgrims at the border.
Several pilgrims crossed the border barefoot as a mark
of respect for the land where Guru Nanak, the founder of the
Sikh religion, was born. Banners with messages of peace and
welcome greeted the pilgrims.
The leaders of different 'jathas' or delegations
stressed the need for people-to-people contacts and early
resumption of the peace dialogue between Indian and Pakistan.
Soon after their arrival, the pilgrims left for
Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal, where the main festival is
to be held from Monday. The pilgrims are being guarded by
police and paramilitary Pakistan Rangers.
The Pakistan government has for the first time
deployed Pakistan Rangers to provide security to the Indian
pilgrims because of a series of terror attacks across the
country.
Besides Sikhs from India, some 1,000 pilgrims are
expected to arrive from Europe, the Middle East, the US,
Canada and Afghanistan. A large number of local Sikhs and
Hindus will also participate in the festival.
Last year, over 4,000 Sikhs from India had attended
the festival but the figure is lower this year due to tensions
between the two countries in the wake of the Mumbai terror
attacks. PTI CORR
PMR
NNNN
India arrived here Saturday to participate in Baisakhi
celebrations during which they will also visit the birthplace
of founder of their faith Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib.
Sikhs arrived in this eastern Pakistani city to
participate in Baisakhi celebrations marking the end of the
wheat harvesting season at several holy sites.
A total of 180 Sikhs from India arrived in Lahore in
the first of several special trains, Evacuee Trust Property
Board media manager Jacolin Tressler said.
Indian authorities had informed the Board that another
1,500 Sikhs were on their way in more special trains, she told
PTI.
During their nine-day stay in Pakistan, the Sikhs will
visit Gurdwara Janamsthan at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of
Guru Nanak, Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, Gurdwara Saccha
Soda in Farooqabad and Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Aimanabad. They
will leave for India on April 20.
Officials of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak
Committee and the Evacuee Trust Property Board, which is
responsible for maintaining Sikh shrines, greeted the Sikh
yatris or pilgrims at the border.
Several pilgrims crossed the border barefoot as a mark
of respect for the land where Guru Nanak, the founder of the
Sikh religion, was born. Banners with messages of peace and
welcome greeted the pilgrims.
The leaders of different 'jathas' or delegations
stressed the need for people-to-people contacts and early
resumption of the peace dialogue between Indian and Pakistan.
Soon after their arrival, the pilgrims left for
Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal, where the main festival is
to be held from Monday. The pilgrims are being guarded by
police and paramilitary Pakistan Rangers.
The Pakistan government has for the first time
deployed Pakistan Rangers to provide security to the Indian
pilgrims because of a series of terror attacks across the
country.
Besides Sikhs from India, some 1,000 pilgrims are
expected to arrive from Europe, the Middle East, the US,
Canada and Afghanistan. A large number of local Sikhs and
Hindus will also participate in the festival.
Last year, over 4,000 Sikhs from India had attended
the festival but the figure is lower this year due to tensions
between the two countries in the wake of the Mumbai terror
attacks. PTI CORR
PMR
NNNN
