Pak puts off Panja Sahib Baisakhi celebrations

Lahore, April 6

Pakistan has cancelled the Baisakhi celebrations at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Punjab province from April 14, in which around 2,000 Sikhs from India were to participate, due to the coronavirus pandemic, authorities said on Monday. The number of the coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Monday reached 3,277 with the infections in the worst-hit Punjab province approaching 1,500.

"The government has cancelled both Baisakhi and Sadhu Bela festivals scheduled to be held in April and May, respectively, because of coronavirus," said Mir Hashmi, the Evacuee Trust Property Board spokesperson. He said the Pakistan government was to issue over 2,000 visas to Indian Sikhs for the Baisakhi festival but it has stopped the process earlier because of the pandemic. "Instructions have also been issued to the management of the Gurdwara Hasan Abdal not to open it for local Sikhs for the Baisakhi festivities either," he said.

Baisakhi is an ancient festival which marks the beginning of a new harvest season. It was scheduled to begin here on April 12 and the main event was to be held on April 14 at the revered Gurdwara in Hasan Abdal city of Punjab province. Thousands of local Sikhs, in addition to pilgrims from India and other parts of the world, participate in it every year. Around 100 Indian Hindus and local pilgrims participate in the festival every year. Last year some 2,200 Indian Sikhs and around 100 Indian Hindus participated in Baisakhi and Sadhu Bela festivals in Pakistan. PTI

Govt was to issue over 2,000 visas

• The Pakistan government was to issue over 2,000 visas to Indian Sikhs for the Baisakhi festival
• Instructions have also been issued to not to open the gurdwara for local Sikhs for the festivities either
• ETPB Chairman Amir Ahmed said all worship places would remain closed till April 14 owing to the lockdown in connection with the coronavirus crisis
• The board also said the Sadhu Bela festival in Sukker district of Sindh, will not be held in May