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Three-day Besakhi Mela started on Sunday at Gurudwara Siri Punja Sahib Hasanabdal with ritual Paat Sahib with the participation of more than 8,000 Sikh pilgrims including 1,700 from India.
The Sikh pilgrims during the celebrations will perform different rituals including recitation of their holy book Guru Garant.
Deputy Secretary Shrines Syed Faraz Abbas claimed that they had been provided accommodation inside the Gurudwara while local Sikhs had been adjusted inside govt schools.
He said that all the basic facilities were being provided for the pilgrims free of cost. He said the district police would provide security cover as it had deployed more than 1000 cops including four DSPs, 15 SHOs, 153 inspectors, 135 head constables, 153 constables and 90 Elite Police Force personnel.
Indian group leaders and members of Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee Sardar Amreet Singh, Sardar Amarjeet Singh, Sardar Sawaran Singh and Jagjeet Singh Bhalar said that they were satisfied with the arrangements made for them here at the Gurudwara. They said, “We are enjoying home like environment and performing our rituals with full religious freedom.”