LAHORE, Oct 29: The first batch of 53 Sikh pilgrims arrived here from India on Wednesday to attend the 534th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion, Baba Guru Nanak.

Officials of the Evacuee Properties Trust Board (EPTB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee welcomed them at Wagah.

The group leader, Autar Singh Cheema, told reporters that they had come from the UK to attend the anniversary of their spiritual leader. He hoped that the arrangements in the Nankana Sahib and other holy places would be satisfactory. He said that another 35 Sikh pilgrims of their batch were likely to arrive here from the UK on Thursday (today).

Those who arrived on Wednesday would stay in Pakistan for 10 days. Besides attending the main religious festival during their stay, the Sikh pilgrims will visit other holy places like Gurdwara Dera Sahib near the Lahore fort, Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal, Gurdwara Saccha Soda in Farooqabad and Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Aimanabad.

Sikhs from the US, Canada, Europe and the Middle East are also expected to start arriving in Lahore in a couple of days to attend one of their biggest religious festivals from Nov 6 to 8, in Gurdwara Janam Asthan in the Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura district. —Reporter