In pictures: Pakistan welcomes scores of Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in landmark ceremony

[ghazi52]

In pictures:..............
Pakistan welcomes scores of Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in landmark ceremony

The opening comes just days ahead of the Guru Nanak's 550th birthday on November 12.
AFP


Hundreds of Indian Sikhs made a historic pilgrimage to Pakistan, crossing through a white gate to reach one of their religion's holiest sites, after a landmark opening of the Kartarpur corridor on Saturday.

Cheering Sikhs walked joyfully along the road from Dera Baba Nanak in India towards the new immigration hall that would allow them to pass through a secure land corridor into Pakistan. Some fathers ran, carrying their children on their shoulders.

Buses were waiting on the Pakistani side to carry them along the corridor to the shrine to Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak, which lies in Kartarpur, a small town just four kilometres (2.5 miles) inside Pakistan where he is believed to have died.

“Generally people say that God is everywhere. But this walk feels like I'm going to directly seek blessings from Guru Nanak,” Surjit Singh Bajwa told AFP as he walked towards the corridor, crying as he spoke.

Pilgrims on both sides of the border hoped the corridor might herald a thaw in South Asian tensions.

Among the first pilgrims was former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who told Pakistani state media that it was a “big moment”.

Many believe it has happened now because of the friendship between Prime Minister Imran Khan, a World Cup winning cricketer-turned politician, and India's Navjot Singh Sidhu — another cricketer-turned-politician.

Many were emotional, some in tears. Others posed for selfies before a giant gold-and silver-coloured kirpan, the dagger which Sikhs must carry with them at all times as an article of their faith.

“Life is short,” said one of the Indian pilgrims, Davinder Singh Wadah. “Everyone has to go... so why not enjoy life and make this world a heaven, and I think this initiative is the beginning of it. “

The opening comes just days ahead of the Guru Nanak's 550th birthday on November 12 — an anniversary of huge significance for the global Sikh community.

Sitting places with pillows are set out for Sikh pilgrims to attend a ceremomy for the inauguration of the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, on Saturday. — AFP......

Sikh pilgrims arrive through the corridor to visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh pilgrims arrive to visit the shrine of their spiritual leader Guru Nanak Dev, at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, on Saturday. — AP

Sikh pilgrims stand in a queue to visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh pilgrims arrive to visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh devotees gather to offer prayers towards the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib during the inauguration ceremony in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Security personnel escort Indian politician and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu (L) and Indian Bollywood actor Sunny Deol as they visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh pilgrims point at the inauguration site of the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

An Indian Sikh pilgrim offers prayers as he visits the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — Reuters........

Sikh pilgrims take part in a religious ritual at the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP......

Sikh devotees offer prayers as they look towards the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib during the inauguration ceremony in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

An Indian Sikh pilgrim holding a sword (as a part of their religious order) sits while visiting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — Reuters...

An army helicopter patrols over the the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

..

Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses during the inauguration ceremony of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi greets Navjot Singh Sidhu. — Foreign Office

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks with former Indian premier Manmohan Singh and Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu. — Foreign Office

Indian Sikh pilgrims take in the view as they visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — Reuters

 

[ghazi52]

..

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, centre, claps during the inauguration ceremony of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AP

Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses during the inauguration ceremony of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, on Saturday. — AP

 

[YeBeWarned]

Sunny Deol arriving under armed guards ?

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Sunny Deol arriving under armed guards ?

He must have a Deja Vu feeling...arrived in Pakistan many times before, in B'wood anti Pakistan films.

How ironic and Karmic.

And since he is not getting any anti Pakistan films now he thought it is fine.

 

[Jinn Baba]

He must have a Deja Vu feeling...arrived in Pakistan many times before, in B'wood anti Pakistan films.

How ironic and Karmic.

And since he is not getting any anti Pakistan films he thought it is now fine.

It's this people to people contact, and such people actually visiting Pakistan and interacting with Pakistanis that will change their views and positions.

 

[Mentee]

@SorryNotSorry

 

[YeBeWarned]

He must have a Deja Vu feeling...arrived in Pakistan many times before, in B'wood anti Pakistan films.

How ironic and Karmic.

And since he is not getting any anti Pakistan films now he thought it is fine.

Bechara Shakal se ghabraya hua lag raha tha, souch raha ho ga kahen Pakistan walo ne yaheen rok liya tu Pata nai kia kia ukhaar len gay

 

[Salahuddin Ayyubi]

You made my night with this comment. May Allah bring you how and happiness. I couldn't stop laughing for 4 minutes straight.

He must have a Deja Vu feeling...arrived in Pakistan many times before, in B'wood anti Pakistan films.

How ironic and Karmic.

And since he is not getting any anti Pakistan films now he thought it is fine.

 

[Harry Deol]

Thank you so very much for the pics. I would share them with all my family and relatives. God bless you.
Ironically my home is just 1.5 (Gurdaspur) from the border and often times have seen Pakistani farmers working in the fields. It feels so close and still so far.

We migrated to India during partition and our ancestoral home was in vill Mayodatta
(I don't know if I am spelling it right) distt Narowal. I have heard so much about that place from my grandparents that I have a clear picture of the place in my mind even though I have never visited the place and unfortunately never will.

 

[Rusty]

Thank you so very much for the pics. I would share them with all my family and relatives. God bless you.
Ironically my home is just 1.5 (Gurdaspur) from the border and often times have seen Pakistani farmers working in the fields. It feels so close and still so far.

We migrated to India during partition and our ancestoral home was in vill Mayodatta
(I don't know if I am spelling it right) distt Narowal. I have heard so much about that place from my grandparents that I have a clear picture of the place in my mind even though I have never visited the place and unfortunately never will.

Pakistan is open to negotiate an end to 70 years of madness and bring peace to the region. You people just have to vote for similar peaceful politicians and then we can visit each other's countries any time.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan is open to negotiate an end to 70 years of madness and bring peace to the region. You people just have to vote for similar peaceful politicians and then we can visit each other's countries any time.

True.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

Place is jammed pack
Good move Pak establishment on this onr. Hopefully it will not blow up inyour face like some past moves did. May you have success.
It is comical how for decades now PTI jiyalas will claim IK opened this corridor like PPP and PMLN claim that they made atom bomb.

In pictures:..............
Pakistan welcomes scores of Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in landmark ceremony

The opening comes just days ahead of the Guru Nanak's 550th birthday on November 12.
AFP


Hundreds of Indian Sikhs made a historic pilgrimage to Pakistan, crossing through a white gate to reach one of their religion's holiest sites, after a landmark opening of the Kartarpur corridor on Saturday.

Cheering Sikhs walked joyfully along the road from Dera Baba Nanak in India towards the new immigration hall that would allow them to pass through a secure land corridor into Pakistan. Some fathers ran, carrying their children on their shoulders.

Buses were waiting on the Pakistani side to carry them along the corridor to the shrine to Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak, which lies in Kartarpur, a small town just four kilometres (2.5 miles) inside Pakistan where he is believed to have died.

“Generally people say that God is everywhere. But this walk feels like I'm going to directly seek blessings from Guru Nanak,” Surjit Singh Bajwa told AFP as he walked towards the corridor, crying as he spoke.

Pilgrims on both sides of the border hoped the corridor might herald a thaw in South Asian tensions.

Among the first pilgrims was former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who told Pakistani state media that it was a “big moment”.

Many believe it has happened now because of the friendship between Prime Minister Imran Khan, a World Cup winning cricketer-turned politician, and India's Navjot Singh Sidhu — another cricketer-turned-politician.

Many were emotional, some in tears. Others posed for selfies before a giant gold-and silver-coloured kirpan, the dagger which Sikhs must carry with them at all times as an article of their faith.

“Life is short,” said one of the Indian pilgrims, Davinder Singh Wadah. “Everyone has to go... so why not enjoy life and make this world a heaven, and I think this initiative is the beginning of it. “

The opening comes just days ahead of the Guru Nanak's 550th birthday on November 12 — an anniversary of huge significance for the global Sikh community.

Sitting places with pillows are set out for Sikh pilgrims to attend a ceremomy for the inauguration of the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, on Saturday. — AFP......

Sikh pilgrims arrive through the corridor to visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh pilgrims arrive to visit the shrine of their spiritual leader Guru Nanak Dev, at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, on Saturday. — AP

Sikh pilgrims stand in a queue to visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh pilgrims arrive to visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh devotees gather to offer prayers towards the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib during the inauguration ceremony in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Security personnel escort Indian politician and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu (L) and Indian Bollywood actor Sunny Deol as they visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

Sikh pilgrims point at the inauguration site of the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

An Indian Sikh pilgrim offers prayers as he visits the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — Reuters........

Sikh pilgrims take part in a religious ritual at the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP......

Sikh devotees offer prayers as they look towards the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib during the inauguration ceremony in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

An Indian Sikh pilgrim holding a sword (as a part of their religious order) sits while visiting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — Reuters...

An army helicopter patrols over the the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AFP

..

Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses during the inauguration ceremony of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — AP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi greets Navjot Singh Sidhu. — Foreign Office

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks with former Indian premier Manmohan Singh and Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu. — Foreign Office

Indian Sikh pilgrims take in the view as they visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Saturday. — Reuters