2400 Sikh pilgrims arrive for Baisakhi Festival

[Missile]

G ayan nu. Sukhi ao te shuki jao.

 

[Raja.Pakistani]

Hope they have safe stay and enjoy their time in Pakistan

 

[cheekybird]

Wish them a comfortable and safe stay.

 

[Aarush]

Thank you Pakistan.......

 

[Edevelop]

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims arrive to a warm welcome



LAHORE: As many as 2,300 Sikh pilgrims arrived in Lahore on Thursday to celebrate the Baisakhi festival.

“Pakistanis are wonderful hosts. This is my second trip to Pakistan and I am happy to see that the government has provided pilgrims even more facilities than last year,” Sukhwinder Singh, a 60-year-old pilgrim from India, said.

The government had issued 2,400 pilgrims for the festival.

The pilgrims will travel to Hassan Abdal on three special trains provided for them. They will stay there till April 14 and then go to Nankana Sahib where they will stay till April 16. They will then travel to Sacha Soda Sahib (Farooqabad). Later, they will visit Kataspur (Aimanabad) and finally return to Lahore to travel back to India.

The pilgrims were received by members of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGBC) and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) officials including Shrines Additional Secretary Khalid Ali, Deputy Secretary Syed Faraz Abbas and Azhar Nazir Sulehri who showered them with rose petals.

As many as four stalls were set up at the Wagha border railway station for the pilgrims. These stalls carried medicine, food, water and tea. Rangers and a large contingent of police were deployed at the station to provide security to the pilgrims.

Abbas said the government wanted to provide maximum facilities for the pilgrims to ensure a comfortable stay.

Abbas said the government would offer free stay, food and medicines to the pilgrims.

“These pilgrims are our guests and it is our duty to ensure they enjoy their stay in Pakistan. Every year we try to improve the facilities available to them,” he said.

Parabhjot Singh, a 13-year-old pilgrim, said, “It is a great feeling to come to Pakistan for the first time. I came for a religious event and am amazed to see such a lovely reception for us.”

“We are here to celebrate 315th birthday of Khalsa faith and the love we have received on arrival cannot be explained in words,” said Indi Kaur, a 35-year-old pilgrim from Amritsar.

Shrines Additional Secretary Khalid Ali told The Express Tribune every year the ETPB hosted the pilgrims.

He said a medical camp had been set up for the pilgrims and fool proof security had been arranged.

“We try to ensure that the pilgrims leave with good memories. Such initiatives are also good for tourism,” he said.

Jarmoun Singh, another pilgrim, said, “I have been visiting Pakistan for Baisakhi Festival for the last 4 years. Every year, the ETPB provides us better facilities than before.”

“I will recommend to the government of Pakistan to have more immigration officials and desks for our arrival to Pakistan. It would help save time and effort,” said a 45-year-old pilgrim Parabhjit Singh.

Baisakhi festival: Thousands of Sikh pilgrims arrive to a warm welcome – The Express Tribune

 

[Jaggu]

Take a look at the level of security. Good stuff. I wish them a happy, blessed and spiritually uplifting time in Pakistan.

So many elders amongst them (Nihang elder).

Really impressed with the level of security.

 

[waz]

Really impressed with the level of security.

They deserve the best. Sadly in better times there was no need. Only "directions" cops were needed.....

 

[genmirajborgza786]

wish the pilgrims a comfortable & blessed stay

 

[he-man]

Good to see ppl are happy

 

[HttpError]

We love our Sikh Brothers

Good to see ppl are happy

Your only post of the day, that has no trolling involved j.k

 

[he-man]

We love our Sikh Brothers


Your only post of the day, that has no trolling involved j.k

I don't troll
Show me one post,i dare u

 

[Bratva]

I don't troll
Show me one post,i dare u

If we show you what will you do?

 

[KingMamba]

Abbas said the government would offer free stay, food and medicines to the pilgrims.

Wtf free?

You fucking shitting me this is a good opportunity to make money on religious tourism and these idiots are giving free lodge.


@Aeronaut

 

[Edevelop]

Wtf free?

You fucking shitting me this is a good opportunity to make money on religious tourism and these idiots are giving free lodge.


@Aeronaut

These days Pakistan's security situation is not looking good. Gotta find ways to keep these guys coming. I could be wrong but considering a business standpoint, a free trial is not necessarily a bad thing. You build confidence and attract more people to come next year. It only makes sense that at that position you start to charge them to earn profits.

 

[KingMamba]

These days Pakistan's security situation is not looking good. Gotta find ways to keep these guys coming. I could be wrong but considering a business standpoint, a free trial is not necessarily a bad thing. You build confidence and attract more people to come next year. It only makes sense that at that position you start to charge them to earn profits.

The reason why so few are coming is because that is the amount of visas Pakistan has allowed to come for the celebration, if Pakistan allows more then more will come. Anyway giving away free lodge and medicine to Indians of all people is asinine.