LAHORE: Some 815 Sikhs arrived here from India on Monday to attend Vaisakhi festival.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhik Committee officials received them at Wagah border.

According to ETPB spokesperson Amir Hashmi, some 815 Sikhs arrived from India via Wagah border. He said the pilgrims were served with langar (food) as per Sikh tradition at Wagah and were taken to Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hassanabdal for the main function [April 14].

Also known as Baisakhi, Vaisakhi is a spring harvest festival for Sikhs and Hindus. It marks the Sikh new year and commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued visas to over 1,100 Sikh pilgrims in connection with the 10-day Vaisakhi festival.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2021