Hassanabdal - Celebrations to mark the 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, began at Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib Hassan Abdal here on Sunday, with thousands of pilgrims from around the world attending the vent to express their devotion and love for Baba Guru Nanak.
Strict security arrangements are put in place to ensure peace. The birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak are being held like every year for which about 3,000 pilgrims from India were issued visas by the Pakistani government.
More than 2300 pilgrims from India were escorted to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib Hassan Abdal under tight police security to attend the three-day birthday celebrations at Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib Hassan Abdal.
The entire area was sealed off before their arrival, while more than 1,200 personnel are deployed on security duties. A large number of pilgrims from other countries and from within the country had already reached Gurdwara Panja Sahib.
Ashnan during the three-day pilgrimage, forehead Akhandpat and other religious rites will be performed.
On the occasion of the arrival of the pilgrims, they were received by the high officials of the district administration. DPO Attock is overseeing the security arrangements while DC Attock itself is overseeing all the arrangements regarding the facilities provided to the pilgrims. The pilgrims will return on November 22 after attending the ceremonies.
The Yatrees would leave for Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, on Monday, for the execution of their religious rites. The Sikh Yatrees had reached Pakistan via Wagah Border on November 17 to attend Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations.
After performing more rituals at Kartar Pura, they participated in the primary function held on November 19 at Nankana Sahib. At all places, Sikh pilgrims were received with the traditional warmth of Punjab and all possible facilities were provided to them for the performance of their religious rites.
The representatives of Sikh pilgrims have praised the government for making arrangements at all places and appreciated these steps. Every year thousands of Yatrees and families visit their sacred sites in Pakistan to perform their religious obligation.