LAHORE, June 26: As many as 135 Sikh pilgrims arrived here from India on Thursday to attend religious ceremonies in connection with the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Dera Sahib near the Lahore Fort.

Earlier, around 500 Sikhs were scheduled to reach Pakistan on June 21, but the Indian government’s denial and refusal of visas by the Pakistani embassy caused delay and reduced their strength.

The pilgrims crossed the Wagah border at 11.45am and welcomed by the officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee chairman.

Later, they reached the Dera Sahib where they, along with 800 local Sikhs, will participate in the Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary ceremonies beginning Friday (today).

Group leaders of the batch Shri Aunkaar and Sardar Autar Singh have urged the governments of India and Pakistan to hold dialogue to promote peace in the region. They believe that talks will provide a relief to the people of both the countries.

They hoped that resumption of good relations between the two countries would help their fellow Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan regularly. At least 3,000 pilgrims should be allowed to visit Pakistan for every Sikh festival, they demanded.