Amritsar, November 4 — In a significant development following Operation Sindoor, the first Sikh Jatha left for Pakistan on Tuesday to celebrate Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, but this year’s pilgrimage excludes Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) due to government restrictions.
The group of more than 2,000 devotees departed for the Attari border in the morning to begin the traditional journey to Gurdwara Janamsthan in Nankana Sahib, where celebrations for the Gurpurb are scheduled for November 5. The pilgrims will also visit key Sikh shrines in Lahore before returning on November 13.
Confirming the departure, Palwinder Singh, in charge of the SGPC’s Yatra Vibhag, said the committee had not been informed about why the Centre decided to restrict participation to Indian citizens. “Earlier, NRIs were allowed, but this time the government order only mentions Indian passport holders,” he said.
Initially, the Centre had declined to clear the visit, citing heightened tensions and drone activity along the border after a limited exchange between India and Pakistan. The move sparked concern among Sikh religious bodies, prompting appeals to allow at least a small group to uphold the decades-old tradition.
Following these appeals, permission was finally granted for an Indian-only delegation to cross over. The SGPC arranged buses for 1,796 pilgrims from Amritsar’s Heritage Street near the Golden Temple to Attari, while others travelled independently from across Punjab.
For several participants, the trip marks their first visit to the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. “It’s a dream come true to bow my head at Nankana Sahib,” said one pilgrim before boarding the bus.
As the jatha proceeds on its week-long spiritual journey, the focus now shifts to ensuring their safe return amid the fragile calm along the Indo-Pak border.
