Pakistan allows Nankana Sahib jatha to visit other shrines

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 16

The Pakistan government has allowed 505 pilgrims, visiting Nankana Sahib to commemorate the massacre centenary, to visit other prominent Sikh shrines in the country too.

The schedule

Feb 18 Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib

Feb 19 Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Farooqabad

Feb 21 Main event at Nankana Sahib

Feb 22 Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal

Feb 23 Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore

Feb 24 Kartarpur Sahib & Rori Sahib, Gujranwala

Feb 25 Back through Attari-Wagah border

Sponsored by the SGPC, the jatha, led by Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, will cross the Attari-Wagah border on February 18 and head to Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib.

Earlier, the jatha was allowed to celebrate the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, but their movement was restricted to Sri Nankana Sahib only in the wake of Covid threat.

The Covid screening report has been made mandatory. The SGPC had conducted a two-day special Covid testing camp that concluded on its premises here today. Various “gurmat” programmes have been scheduled in Pakistan.

As per the eight-day programme, the jatha will visit Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Farooqabad, on February 19. The main event will be held at Nankana Sahib on February 21. The following day, they will visit Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal; Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, on February 23, where dinner will be hosted at the Governor’s House. On February 24, they will visit Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib and Rori Sahib, Gujranwala, and come back to Lahore. On February 25, the jatha will return through Attari-Wagah JCP.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), too, will commemorate the occasion under the leadership of its president Bibi Jagir Kaur. The event will be held at Godharpur village in Gurdaspur district, which is associated with the kin of Shaheed Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali, martyr of Nankana Sahib a century ago.