LAHORE: Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims returned to Lahore on Tuesday morning after participating in various activities of Jor Mela held in connection with the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji at Nankana and Gurdwara Panja Sahib.

After reaching here at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, the pilgrims visited Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort. They also visited the adjoining markets and bought various Pakistani products.

“We are really happy while being here as the government has done excellent arrangements to facilitate us during the Jor Mela celebrations,” said Sardar Tanna Singh, a pilgrims leader, while talking to the media at Dera Sahib temple.

He said the pilgrims would take a message of love, peace and harmony to the people of India from Pakistan.

According to a spokesperson for the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), the pilgrims, who had arrived in Lahore from India via Wagah through a special train last week, would depart for Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur, Narowal) and Gurdwara

Rohri Sahib (Aimanabad, Gujranwala) on Wednesday (today).

“After visiting the aforementioned places, the pilgrims will return to Lahore on Thursday (tomorrow) and participate in main ceremony of the Jor Mela. On June 17, they will go back to India,” the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Transport Company (LTC), in a press release, said it, in association with its private transport operator (Platform), spared some air-conditioned buses for the Sikh pilgrims.

“The public transport is being provided to Sikh Yatrees as non-stop service from railway station to Gurdwara Dera Sahib as requested by the ETPB,” said an LTC spokesman.

The fare Rs30 per person is charged from the commuters who would avail this special transport service.

This special service would also be provided to pilgrims for departing from Gurdwara Dera Sahib to railway station whenever requested by the ETPB, the spokesman added.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2016