SANGLA HILL-Thousands of Sikh Yatrees from across the world performed main rituals of the 549th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikh religion, underway at Gurdwara Janam Astan here on Saturday.
The Punjab government, the Auqaf Department and the Evacuee Trust Board have made elaborated arrangements to facilitate the Sikh Yatrees. The police have adopted foolproof security measures to avert any unpleasant incident.
Draped in colourful dresses, the Sikhs brought out the Palki with Granth Sahib from Gurduwara Janam Asthan and carried it to seven other gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib - Paiti Sahib, Palia Sahib, Tambu Sahib, Panjhvin Padshahi, Chehnvin Padshahi, Salji Sahib and Giyara Sahib - to complete the main religious ceremony called Nagar Kirtan.
The three-day celebrations ended Saturday midnight after a prayer ceremony called Irdaas. Most of the yatrees coming from the UK, the US, Canada, Afghanistan and different cities of Pakistan would leave for their homes on Sunday.
On the other hand, high-ups of the Auqaf Department and Evacuee Trust Board including its Chairman Siddiqul Farooq monitored the arrangements with their presence at the Gurdwara.
Meanwhile, in his message Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Sikh community and welcomed them in Pakistan.
He said that Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji has been an example of religious tolerance and inter-faith harmony who promoted the message of brotherhood and love to the humanity.
He said that minorities are free to perform their religious worship and welfare of minorities including the Sikhs community is part of government priorities.