Record 6,500 visas issued for Vaisakhi as Pakistan prepares to host thousands of Sikh pilgrims at Nankana Sahib

Yudhvir Rana / TNN / Apr 8, 2025, 15:57 IST

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Pakistan has issued over 6,500 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for the Vaisakhi festival, leading to revised logistical arrangements by the PSGPC and the Punjab government of Pakistan. To manage the large influx, pilgrims will be divided into two groups, visiting different Gurdwaras before uniting for the main celebration at Nankana Sahib on April 14.

Record 6,500 visas issued for Vaisakhi as Pakistan prepares to host thousands of Sikh pilgrims at Nankana Sahib

AMRITSAR : With more than 6,500 visas issued to Indian Sikh pilgrims aspiring to participate in the Vaisakhi festival, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and the Punjab government of Pakistan have revised their logistical arrangements.
This is to ensure smooth facilitation to accommodate the large influx of devotees. The authorities have devised two separate programmes, with both groups celebrating the main Vaisakhi ceremony together at Nankana Sahib on April 14.
Last year, the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) issued 2,250 visas for the Vaisakhi celebrations. In previous years, the number typically ranged between 2,500 and 3,000. This year, however, marks the highest number of visas issued by the PHC for Vaisakhi to date, with over 6,500 pilgrims granted permission to attend.
Saad Ahmad Warraich, Charge d'Affaires PHC, said, "The large number of visas issued by the govt of Pakistan is a manifestation of our policy to foster harmony and promote understanding between people, cultures, and religions."

Meanwhile, Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab’s first Sikh minister in Pakistan, informed that a meeting was held on Tuesday to discuss preparations for the Vaisakhi Festival. This included a comprehensive review of the festival arrangements, with officials from various relevant departments presenting their updates and reports.
Ramesh said that the Vaisakhi Mela will be celebrated from April 10 to April 19, and they expect participation from approximately 20,000 local pilgrims and around 7,000 pilgrims from India and other parts of the world. He informed that religious ceremonies are scheduled to be held in Kartarpur on April 16, followed by a Kabaddi match.
In the wake of the heavy rush of devotees, the authorities have divided the pilgrims into two groups. According to the revised programme, the PSGPC and the Evacuee Trust Property Board will welcome Indian pilgrims in two groups.
Group 1 pilgrims will be escorted to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal, while Group 2 pilgrims will be taken to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Narowal. Both groups will then come together to celebrate the main Vaisakhi festival event at Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib on April 14, before returning to India on April 19.

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