LAHORE, Nov 21: Over 4,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims, including women and children, arrived here on Wednesday by three special trains to attend the festivities in connection with the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

Officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETBT) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee greeted them at the Wagah Railway Station.

Many pilgrims crossed the border barefooted in sanctity of the land, which is the birthplace of the founder of their religion. Welcome banners were displayed on the roads leading to Wagah.

The pilgrims left for Baba Guru Nanak’s birthplace at Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib soon after their arrival to take part in the three-day festivities, starting on Thursday morning.

Of the total pilgrims arrived here on Wednesday, 2,310 came under the banner of Indian Shumani Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee Amritsar, 1,050 of Delhi Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee and 400 of Nankana Shahib Sikh Yatrees.

ISGPC head Amrit Singh told reporters at Wagah that every visiting Sikh was elated at stepping into the land of their spiritual leader.

He said he learnt that the Pakistani authorities were taking well care of their religious places.