Sikh pilgrims gathered at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, to honour their spiritual leader, Guru Nanak Dev. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan opened a new visa-free corridor on Saturday, allowing Indian Sikhs to visit the holy site. Thousands of pilgrims from India were present to celebrate the opening of the border route. AP Photo
Hundreds of joyful Sikh pilgrims from India entered Pakistan on Tuesday, marking the first major border crossing since deadly clashes in May shut down travel between the two nations.
The pilgrims arrived to celebrate the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi said more than 2,100 visas were issued for the 10-day festival.
At the Wagah-Attari border, the only active land route between India and Pakistan, travellers were greeted with flowers and rose petals by Pakistani officials. Many pilgrims smiled through tears as they crossed into the neighbouring country, some for the first time in their lives.
“We have nothing to do with the war,” said Parvinder Kaur, a pilgrim visiting from India. “We watched videos of these shrines and dreamed of seeing them. Now that we’re here, it feels unreal.”
Another pilgrim, Valeti Singh, said the reception was heartwarming. “It doesn’t feel like we are in another country,” he said. “It feels like we’re among our own people.”
Celebrating Guru Nanak’s Legacy
According to Nasir Mushtaq, a senior official in Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry, around 2,000 pilgrims crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday, the eve of Guru Nanak’s birthday.
“We are welcoming all Sikh pilgrims with great honour and hospitality,” Mushtaq said. “We want them to return home with pleasant memories of Pakistan and carry with them a message of peace and friendship.”
The pilgrims will gather at Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace, located west of Lahore. Over the next several days, they will visit other sacred Sikh sites, including Kartarpur, where the spiritual leader spent his final years and was laid to rest.
Peace and Faith Over Politics
This visit comes after months of tension between the two countries. In May, India and Pakistan saw their worst fighting since 1999, leaving more than 70 people dead. The violence led to the closure of the Wagah border to regular traffic.
Pakistan’s decision to reopen the crossing for Sikh pilgrims is being seen as a gesture of goodwill. Its High Commission said the move aligns with efforts to promote “inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony.”
Despite political tensions, the Sikh community has long sought access to its holiest sites in Pakistan. Many of Sikhism’s most sacred shrines, including Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur, lie on the Pakistani side of the border.
The Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free passage opened in 2019 to allow Indian Sikhs to visit Kartarpur without traditional border crossings, remains closed since the May conflict.
Still, for many of the visitors, faith triumphed over politics. “We pray that peace returns,” said one pilgrim. “One day, we hope our Pakistani brothers can visit our temples in India too.”
Historical Roots and Shared Heritage
Sikhism, founded in the 15th century in Punjab, has deep roots across both countries. The 1947 partition divided the region between Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, leaving several key Sikh holy sites across the border.
While most Sikhs moved to India after partition, the connection to these shrines remains strong. Every year, thousands make the pilgrimage to honour their faith and heritage, crossing a border that continues to divide but cannot erase shared history.
