About 400 Sikh devotees from India arrived in Pakistan to attend events marking the 470th death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, officials said on Tuesday.
Pakistani authorities confirmed that 379 sikh pilgrims had arrived in Lahore and had been given 10-day visas to attend their religious rituals to mark the death anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion.
The 'jatha', under the aegis of Sikh apex body Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC), would be visiting Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib situated in Narowal district of Pakistan.
The Sikhs urged the government of India and Pakistan to facilitate travel for the believers including abolishing visas for the pilgrims.
Over 1,000 Indian Sikhs usually travelled to Pakistan for the event called 'Joti Jot' but their numbers had drastically fallen after relations between the two countries were strained in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
They are a number of historical Sikh sites and shrines in Pakistan mainly in the Punjab province including Punja Sahib, Dera Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Sacha Saudah Sahib and Rohri Sahib. The pilgrims will also spend a day at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.
The Indian Sikhs will stay in Pakistan for eight days and visit other major gurdwaras before returning on September 28.
{{/usCountry}}The Indian Sikhs will stay in Pakistan for eight days and visit other major gurdwaras before returning on September 28.
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