Thousands of Sikhs to Travel to Pakistan to Celebrate Baisakhi

March 18, 2004

Source: Daily Times

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-3-2004_pg7_18

On March 18, 2004 the Daily Times reported, "Thousands of Sikhs from across the world will arrive in Pakistan to participate in the Baisakhi festival in April, with three thousand to come from India alone, an Evacuee Property Trust Board official told Daily Times on Wednesday. The official said the Indian and Pakistani governments had agreed that 3,000 Indian Sikhs would get visas to visit Pakistan during Baisakhi, April 6-15, but the number of Sikh participants from other countries is not fixed...The main Baisakhi function will involve pilgrims performing religious rituals including Akhand Paat Sahib, Phog, Ardas, Hukam Nama and others. They are to return to India on April 15. Apart from India, thousands of Sikhs pilgrims are expected from the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Canada and France. Sikhs from all over Pakistan are to participate as well, most of them from Nankana Sahib in the Punjab and parts of Sindh and North West Frontier Province."