Thousands rejoice as Besakhi concludes at Hasan Abdal

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

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Devotees celebrate at the conclusion of the Besakhi festival at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal. – Photo by Online

WAH CANTT: The 313th religious Sikh festival of Besakhi concluded at the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hasan Abdal on Friday.

The concluding ceremony was attended by over 10,000 Sikh and Hindu yatrees (religious tourists) including over 2,000 from India, Canada and other countries.

Besakhi, also called Vesakhi, is a festival that marks the inauguration of the Sikh New Year, as well the founding of the Sikh community in 1699.

On a broader scale, the festival also celebrated the arrival of harvest season in the sub-continent.

Thousands of Sikh devotees performed Keerthan , followed by Ardaas (prayer) and the ritual concluded with the distribution of ‘parsad,’

Hasan Abdal’s sacred Sikh temple was packed with devotees, who celebrated the spring festival at one of the most sacred sites of Sikhism.

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sanjeev

Apr 16, 2012 11:19am

will pak govt provide subsidy to poor sikhs to visit amritsar or any other pilgrimage spots in india like Indian govt provides to muslims visiting mecca....

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Concern1

Apr 16, 2012 08:09pm

Yes indeed a university dedicated to the sikh gurus in pakistan why not?

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Agha Fahad

Apr 17, 2012 05:48pm

Absolutely a beautiful thoughts you carry about Pakistan and Punjabis, we all are brothers having same language and same culture. Why this breach has created among us, God knows. I am not Punjabi but a pure Pakistani and want to see my country happy and green as it was before and even before 1947 when we were all together. God bless us all.

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sat

Apr 16, 2012 12:55am

thks mr. khan, there are lots loop holes in system . we sikh never want any govt to make any thing for us.we make it with our own resources. we need nice hospitals in panja sahib and nankana sahib. pls ,only need pakistani citizen to make effort.money is no shortage on gurus work.pls keep posting nice comment like this. . some day we might be able to built guru nanak university, hospitals in Pakistan. thks satwant singh

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virendra

Apr 16, 2012 10:24am

Dear Raika Let humanity be the official religion of Pakistan.where all religion will be personal not official.Do u personally accept it ? Virendra

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One Punjab

Apr 14, 2012 12:17am

Besakhi is the Punjabi New year.

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Monty...

Apr 14, 2012 09:59am

A positive aspect pakistan.... hope more will come..

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Runjeet Singh Cheema

Apr 16, 2012 07:31am

Betay raika45, Vesakhi is a celebration of the harvesting season in Madra Pradesh (ancient Punjab) or Sapta Sindhu which is now known as Panjab. It is basically based on the lunar calender. Even Muslim Jatts of Pakistan and Hindu Jatts of other Indian states celebrate Vesakhi. It also signifies a new lunar calender year. On Vesakhi day Guru Gobind Singh ordained the order of the Khalsa in 1699. Khalsas became the trust for the unifying, strength, defence and consolidation of Sikhism, but Sikhism itself however was founded earlier during Baba Nanak's time. Hence for Sikhs it has become of important significance. But Vesakhi day is for all Indians and Pakistanis to celebrate because it is also the end of Winter days.

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athar ali

Apr 16, 2012 05:25am

we also have lots of respect for u people.

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raika45

Apr 14, 2012 07:30pm

In my country where Islam is the official religion, both our Prime Minister and his deputy went to Sikh Gurudwaras with their head covered and gave a helping hand in making roti.They did not enter the inner sanctum where the Granth Sahib is yet their presence shows religious tolerance in our country.Do your leaders have the guts to do it?

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Vinod

Apr 14, 2012 08:12pm

There is no need for Indian leaders to do that. All religions are respected there are no forced conversions, no abduction of girls of minority religions. If an Indian leader of one religious community visits religious place of another (which often happens) it is not a news.

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shiva

Apr 14, 2012 08:54pm

Forget about leaders. In my country even ordinary people of other religions go to gurudwara (Golden Temple Amritsar), mosques (Ajmer Sharief) and churches (Velankanni in Tamil Nadu) and temples (Lord Ayyapas temple in Sabarimala in Kerala). So we dont treat it as a big deal. In your country. I doubt if this sort of trans-faith visits happen!! Hence your leaders go to shrines of other faiths only when they are out of your country!!

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Tamil Arasan

Apr 14, 2012 10:14pm

Hello in my mother land India our PM itself is a Sikh and our former President was a Muslim - so don't lecture us, can a minority person become president of Pakistan??

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Manek Shergill

Apr 14, 2012 11:51pm

Raika I don't know which countries you are speaking about Raika. Sikhs have no problem if a non sikh enters the inner sanctum, as long as they have their heads covered. In India lots of non muslims celebrate muslim festivals (and vice versa), and everyone goes to various sufi saints shrines. Politicians (I don't call them leaders) go to these places for votes, specially in India where the muslim vote can swing the elections in their favor.

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lucky singh natt

Apr 15, 2012 01:57pm

im sikh from punjab(india). My family is originally from gujranwala before 47. we watch pakistani punjabi stage comedy shows. Our language is 99% identical to Pakistani Punjabis. we have lots of respect for punjabi's in pakistan eventhough they are muslims becuz punjab at one time was home for Sikhs and muslims together.

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raika45

Apr 15, 2012 06:44pm

Why is it that such practices are connected to votes.In my country hardly twenty thousand sikh voters scattered throughout the country have no power.Tell me Manek sahib, how many muslims will step into your gurudwara?India may be different. I am not talking about India.I am talking about countries like Pakistan and the rest of muslim dominated countries.Maybe it is the same even in India.Trying to tie tolerance of religion with votes is really a senseless suggestion. It might happen in India. Not in our country Where I said our votes do not make a difference.

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A.Bajwa

Apr 15, 2012 03:43am

All calenders should be on the basis of seasons. The Iranian and Roman calenders started with Spring till religious frenzies over these cultures. This should not affect our religion because seasons are creation of God.

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raika45

Apr 15, 2012 05:30pm

No it is not.It is basically when the Sikh Khalsa panth was created.That is when the Sikhs were made the khalsa with the Amrit by the tenth Guru.From there started our new year.I may be wrong.If I am please correct me.

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aman

Apr 15, 2012 05:53am

You make me laugh, to get answer of your question, you should visit india once where more muslims living than pakistan. I always see all people or leaders go to each other's religion places without any fear. It's not new thing in India.

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raika45

Apr 15, 2012 05:01pm

I am talking about Pakistan. Not India.

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Hope

Apr 15, 2012 05:33pm

I completely agree, undoubtedly India has more Muslims n they enjoy all rights as u claim. but there is no lack of religious tolerance in Pakistan as well..we have our neighbors who r Sikhs, Hindus and Christians and we all share all griefs n smiles together.. if someone has a perception of an intolerant society at grass root level, then he should come to Pk once to find out, not just comment without experiencing!

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raika45 malaysia

Apr 15, 2012 03:47pm

Try telling that to the mullahs,imams and ulama of Islam.See if they will agree.

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Ravi

Apr 15, 2012 11:32am

What is your country and who is the question addressed to?

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Samy Vellu

Apr 15, 2012 08:04am

Raika45, your Prime Minister and his deputy I presume MALAYsia went to Sikh Gurdwaras not to make roti but get votes as they are desperate for votes. Please grow up and be mature..

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Shams AlHq Khan Rajb

Apr 15, 2012 12:06pm

As far as Government of Pakistan is concerned, they are trying their best to lookafter and decorate the Gurdwara Panja Sahib building but it is my sincere request to the Sikh community of all over the world to participate in decorating and beautification of the Gurdwara Panja Sahib building at Hasan Abdal with their own collection of resources, similarly they did in indian Punjab Golden Temple. Our brother Sikhs are so rich in their capacity and they can do with joint efforts. Shams AlHq Khan Saudi Arabia

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sam the man from pak

Apr 15, 2012 08:39am

Gurdwaras are not only for Sikhs...,Muslims,Hindus,Christians and everybody is welcome.its house of god.well done Pakistan.i am very proud to see this.

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haroon rooha

Apr 15, 2012 08:47am

This 21st century,no country should have official religion.It should be a personal matter.In my country there is a separation of church and Govt. there should/will be a wall between mosque and govt in Pakistani.let the best candidate serve the nation/country. Beliefs are blind,faiths are foolish,look for scientific facts or perish.the rules of PHYSICS.

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manpreet singh

May 31, 2012 01:36pm

im obliged with ur thaughts my friend thr r so many ppl all over world who think same as ur.....but if it happens one day tht will b the most beautiful day in the history of the world

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