Around 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India participated in the festival. — Reuters

Glare and galore at Baisakhi festival

Pilgrims from across the world gathered at the shrine of Panja Sahib to celebrate the Sikh festival "Baisakhi".
Published April 15, 2015

Hundreds of pilgrims gathered to celebrate the Baisakhi festival at the shrines of Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev.

The festival of Vaisakhi - also known as Baisakhi - honours the founding of Sikh community known as the Khalsa. It also marks the beginning of a new solar year and the harvesting season.

Around 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India participated in the festival and an additional 1,500 devotees from the UK, US, Canada and Malaysia also attended the religious celebrations.

Sikh pilgrims gather at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of Sikhism's most holy places, during the Vaisakhi festival in Hasan Abdal, about 48 kms from Rawalpindi.— AFP
Sikh pilgrims gather at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of Sikhism's most holy places, during the Vaisakhi festival in Hasan Abdal, about 48 kms from Rawalpindi.— AFP
Pilgrims gather in prayer at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib. — AFP
Pilgrims gather in prayer at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib. — AFP
Priests march at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of Sikhism's most holy places.— AFP
Priests march at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of Sikhism's most holy places.— AFP
A man distributes loquat fruit to pilgrims.— AFP
A man distributes loquat fruit to pilgrims.— AFP
Devotees gesture in prayer as the procession passes by during the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal. — Reuters
Devotees gesture in prayer as the procession passes by during the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal. — Reuters
Sikh devotees watch the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.—Reuters
Sikh devotees watch the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.—Reuters
Devotees prepare as they participate in the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdel. — Reuters
Devotees prepare as they participate in the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdel. — Reuters
Devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival.—Reuters
Devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival.—Reuters
A Sikh devotee throws flower petals as the procession passes by during the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.— Reuters
A Sikh devotee throws flower petals as the procession passes by during the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.— Reuters
Sikh devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal. — Reuters
Sikh devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal. — Reuters
A devotee wets her feet in the holy water.— Reuters
A devotee wets her feet in the holy water.— Reuters
Pakistani police stand guard as Sikh devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.— Reuters
Pakistani police stand guard as Sikh devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.— Reuters
Sikh devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival.— Reuters
Sikh devotees participate in the Baisakhi festival.— Reuters
Children watch the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.— Reuters
Children watch the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdal.— Reuters
Pilgrims attend a religious festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal.— AP
Pilgrims attend a religious festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal.— AP
Sikh pilgrims attend a religious festival in Hasan Abdal. — AP
Sikh pilgrims attend a religious festival in Hasan Abdal. — AP
Sikh devotees watch the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine. — Reuters
Sikh devotees watch the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine. — Reuters
A Sikh devotee washes himself in the holy water.— Reuters
A Sikh devotee washes himself in the holy water.— Reuters
A Sikh devotee prays as the procession passes by during the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdel. — Reuters
A Sikh devotee prays as the procession passes by during the Baisakhi festival at Panja Sahib shrine in Hassan Abdel. — Reuters