(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India has given the green light for Sikh pilgrim groups, known as Jathas, to head to Pakistan. They’re set to join celebrations for Prakash Purab, marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. This comes from government sources in New Delhi.
The trips fall under a 1974 agreement between India and Pakistan that allows visits to religious sites. Not every group can go—state governments will pick select ones and recommend them to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. From there, the Ministry of Home Affairs steps in to approve based on security checks.
This approval stands out because just earlier this month, India blocked Sikh pilgrims from crossing over for the 2025 Prakash Purab in November, citing security worries and ongoing tensions between the two nations. Now, for the current event, things have shifted to allow the journeys.
Devotees will cross the border at Attari-Wagah and visit key spots tied to Guru Nanak Dev, like his birthplace at Nankana Sahib and the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in India will team up with Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board to make the visits smooth.
Every year, thousands of Sikh pilgrims make these trips for big events like Prakash Purab, Baisakhi, and the Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The 1974 India-Pakistan pact keeps these exchanges going, even amid rocky relations.
Since 2019, the Kartarpur Corridor has made it easier for Sikhs to reach the Kartarpur Sahib shrine without a visa. But bigger groups like these Jathas still follow the traditional route.
Both governments are working closely on security and logistics to keep everything safe and organized for the pilgrims.
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