LAHORE, Nov 11: The officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) greeted 3,500 Sikh pilgrims at Wagah who arrived here through three special trains to attend birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak.

Several pilgrims crossed the border barefoot in the sanctity of the land which is the birthplace of the founder of their religion.

Talking to reporters, Ajeet Singh, of Amritsar, complained that they had to face problems in obtaining visas. He urged the Indian and Pakistani governments to ease visa restrictions.

Nanakana Degree College students will help law-enforcement agencies maintain security for the visitors.

The palki with Granth Sahib on it will be taken out on Friday to mark the end of the festival. The Palki will also be carried through other seven adjacent gurdwaras -- Paiti Sahib, Palia Sahib, Tambu Sahib, Panjhvin Padshahi, Chehnvin Padshahi, Salji Sahib and Giyara Sahib.