AI Generated Summary
- The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced that 290 Sikh devotees have been granted visas to travel to Pakistan for a religious pilgrimage linked to the death anniversary commemorations of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
- The annual cross-border pilgrimage provides Sikh devotees with an opportunity to pay homage at revered shrines connected to Sikh history, including sites associated with Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire.
- The visit includes participation in the annual observance at Gurdwara Sri Dera Sahib in Lahore, where the Sikh ruler’s death anniversary is traditionally marked.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced that 290 Sikh devotees have been granted visas to travel to Pakistan for a religious pilgrimage linked to the death anniversary commemorations of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
According to SGPC officials, the pilgrimage group will depart from the committee’s headquarters in Amritsar on June 21. The visit includes participation in the annual observance at Gurdwara Sri Dera Sahib in Lahore, where the Sikh ruler’s death anniversary is traditionally marked.
SGPC representatives said that visa applications for 302 pilgrims had been submitted to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Of these, 290 applicants received travel permission, while 12 were not granted visas.
During their stay, members of the delegation will visit several prominent Sikh religious sites across Pakistan that hold historical and spiritual significance for the community. The pilgrims are also scheduled to attend the main commemorative programme dedicated to Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 29.
The group is expected to return to India on June 30 after completing the pilgrimage.
SGPC Dharam Prachar Committee Secretary Gurinder Singh Mathrewal urged all approved pilgrims to collect their passports from the SGPC office before departure. Arrangements have been made for passport distribution on June 20 and 21.
The annual cross-border pilgrimage provides Sikh devotees with an opportunity to pay homage at revered shrines connected to Sikh history, including sites associated with Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire. The visit remains an important religious and cultural link for the Sikh community, allowing worshippers to reconnect with heritage sites located in present-day Pakistan.
