LAHORE, Nov 10: First batch of 150 Sikh pilgrims arrived here from England on Sunday to take part in the 553rd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib.

Officials of the provincial auqaf department and the Gurdawara Parbhandhak Committee welcomed the Sikhs settled in the UK.

Sikhs from Canada, the US and Europe are expected to start arriving Lahore to attend their one of the biggest religious ceremonies being held from Nov 17 to 19.

Those who arrived today will stay at Lahore’s Dera Saheb near the Lahore Fort for the night and leave for Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, on Monday. The final prayer Bhog will be offered on the last day.

There has been no Sikh yatree from India because of the suspension of rail, road and air traffic between the two countries.

After attending the main ceremony, Sikh pilgrims from all over the world will visit their other holy places like Hasan Abdal’s Panja Sahib, Farooqabad’s Saccha Soda and Aimanabad’s Rohri Saab.

Meanwhile, Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee vice-chairman Sardar Sham Singh urged India to allow Sikhs to take part in their main religious ceremony. Creating hurdles in their way was wrong and immoral, he said.

He said Indian Sikhs had been mainly affected by the suspension of the air, road and rail links between the two countries and urged New Delhi to forthwith restore them.

Sardar Sham Singh said all arrangements had been finalized to welcome Sikhs from the other countries. Special trains and other transport had also been arranged for their trouble free movement to their holy places in the Punjab, he said. He said the visiting pilgrims would be provided with free food and accommodation.