In a historic display of religious harmony and cross-border cultural exchange, over 6,700 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan through the Wagah Border to participate in the Baisakhi Mela celebrations, marking the 326th anniversary of the founding of the Khalsa Panth. This year’s turnout is being hailed as the highest number of Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan in the past 50 years, creating a significant moment in the history of India-Pakistan religious tourism.

The pilgrims arrived on Thursday, just days before the main Baisakhi ceremony to be held on April 14 at Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. The Baisakhi festival, also observed as the Sikh New Year, commemorates the creation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 and holds deep religious and cultural significance for Sikhs worldwide.

Under normal circumstances, the Pakistan-India Religious Protocol Agreement 1974 permits up to 3,000 pilgrims to travel for any religious festival. However, in an unprecedented move, the Pakistani government granted 6,751 visas this year after a special request from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). This gesture was seen as a sign of goodwill and a positive diplomatic overture amid strained bilateral relations.

Speaking at the Wagah Border, Pakistan's Minister of State for Interfaith Harmony, Khel Das Kohistani, along with Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Punjab Minorities Minister, welcomed the pilgrims. Other dignitaries including ETPB Secretary Farid Iqbal and Additional Secretary Shrines Saifullah Khokhar also extended their greetings to the visitors.

The pilgrims, hailing from states such as Amritsar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and 11 other regions across India, expressed deep appreciation for the warm reception and arrangements made by Pakistani authorities.

Daljeet Singh Sarna, a leader of the Gurdwara Management Committee, while interacting with the media at Wagah Border, expressed heartfelt gratitude. He said, "For the first time in history, such a large number of visas were issued to Sikh pilgrims, and this act has truly won the hearts of the entire Sikh community."

The significance of this gesture goes beyond mere numbers. It reflects Pakistan’s evolving approach towards religious minorities and its efforts to promote peace and interfaith harmony. The country’s efforts to maintain historical Sikh sites, including Gurdwara Janamasthan in Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib, and Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, have been appreciated by Sikh communities globally.

Veinder Singh Khalsa, Jatha leader of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, echoed similar sentiments, saying, "Pakistan is a peace-loving country, and Sikhs from all over the world wish to visit it because of the immense respect and honour they receive here."

The current development is particularly significant in the context of the Kartarpur Corridor, which was inaugurated in 2019 to allow visa-free access to Indian pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, another important site for Sikhs. That project had earlier set the stage for improved people-to-people contact between the two nations, despite the ongoing political and military tensions.

This year's Baisakhi pilgrimage is not only a religious event but also a symbolic gesture of cultural diplomacy. The facilitation of this journey amid heightened border issues and recent international debates on minority rights underlines how religious faith can serve as a bridge between two historically estranged neighbours.

Furthermore, the participation of Indian Sikhs in this year’s celebrations has brought the spotlight back on the mutual religious heritage that both countries share. Sites in Pakistan remain spiritually significant for Indian Sikhs, and the ability to access these shrines regularly is a long-standing demand that continues to influence the dialogue around cross-border religious movement.

The security arrangements for the visiting pilgrims have also been carefully managed. According to Pakistani officials, multiple agencies have coordinated to ensure a peaceful and safe pilgrimage, including special transport arrangements, medical facilities, and accommodation at religious guesthouses (sarais) in Nankana Sahib and other cities.

For many of the pilgrims, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some of the elderly pilgrims reportedly said that they had waited decades to walk the sacred grounds of Guru Nanak’s birthplace. The emotional and spiritual fulfilment of this visit was visible in the prayers, hymns, and chants that echoed across the arrival sites.

As the festival unfolds over the coming days, several religious processions, langars (community kitchens), and kirtan sessions (spiritual hymns) will be held at major gurdwaras across Pakistan. The main highlight, however, remains the April 14 celebration at Gurdwara Janamasthan, where thousands will gather to offer prayers and seek blessings.

The Sikh community around the world is closely watching this development, applauding both India and Pakistan for allowing such large-scale religious movement despite the strained political landscape. Social media has been flooded with images and videos of pilgrims joyously celebrating their faith, with hashtags such as #Baisakhi2025, #SikhPilgrimsInPakistan, and #PeaceThroughFaith trending among South Asian netizens.

In conclusion, the arrival of over 6,700 Sikh pilgrims in Pakistan for Baisakhi celebrations in 2025 is not just a numerical milestone. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith, cultural heritage, and the potential for reconciliation through mutual respect. While political and territorial disagreements persist between the two nations, acts of goodwill like this pilgrimage offer a glimpse of hope and remind us of the deep-rooted human connections that still exist across borders.

As the celebrations continue, the world watches closely to see whether this cultural and religious convergence can pave the way for more open, humane, and cooperative engagement between India and Pakistan.

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