The first contingent of Indian Sikh pilgrims crossed the Attari-Wagah border into Pakistan on Tuesday to take part in the celebrations of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
New Delhi: The celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary were overshadowed by an unexpected incident at the Attari-Wagah border, where a group of Hindu devotees was stopped from entering Pakistan, despite having completed all required formalities. The group had accompanied a larger Sikh delegation headed to Nankana Sahib for the annual Parkash Purab festivities.
According to reports, the Hindus, including families from Delhi and Lucknow, were turned back by Pakistani officials who said only individuals identified as Sikhs would be permitted to travel onward to the holy site. Several of them described feeling humiliated after being asked to leave at the last moment, even though they had crossed immigration and purchased tickets for the bus to Nankana Sahib.
Pakistan had approved more than 2,100 visas for Indian pilgrims this year, but only 1,796 were allowed to enter as part of the official Sikh jatha. Around 300 others were denied entry for what authorities described as “procedural issues.” However, Hindu pilgrims alleged that they were singled out due to their religion being mentioned on their travel documents.
Government sources in India later indicated that some of the Hindus in question had earlier lived in Pakistan before acquiring Indian citizenship and had applied to visit acquaintances rather than participate in the pilgrimage. Since the decision to deny entry falls within Pakistan’s sovereign authority, Indian officials said there were no grounds for an official objection.
For those turned away, the experience was deeply distressing. Devotees said they had hoped to join Sikh pilgrims in offering prayers at Gurdwara Janamsthan, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Meanwhile, the main Sikh contingent successfully crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday to mark the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Nankana Sahib. The pilgrimage had initially been held up after India’s Ministry of Home Affairs cited security concerns following heightened tensions with Pakistan, but the journey was later cleared after appeals from Sikh religious bodies.
