Connecting paths of religious sentimens, Pakistan issues 2,200 visas for Sikh pilgrims

New Delhi, April 11: The relation shared between India and Pakistan is known to the entire world. But when this relation signifies a positive light, eyebrows are raised and curiosity intensifies. A glimpse of the same was witnessed when Pakistan announced issuing 2,200 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for celebrating Baisakhi. A festival that is always celebrated with lot of joy and enthusiasm in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana.

The move comes under the framework of the India-Pakistan Protocol on visits to religious shrines of 1974. In this perspective, Pakistan on Tuesday granted 2,200 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in Baisakhi celebrations from April 12 to 21.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal in a tweet, said, “Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, issued 2200 visas to Indian Sikh Pilgrims today, for the upcoming #Baisakhi festival, in line with our efforts to promote inter-faith harmony & people-to-people contacts.”

Likewise, in a press release, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood said "We extend our profound greetings and felicitations to all our brothers and sisters celebrating this auspicious occasion and wish the visiting pilgrims a spiritually fulfilling journey."

During their visit to Pakistan, the Sikh pilgrims would be visiting shrines like Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, and Kartarpur Sahib. The protocol between India and Pakistan enables a large number of pilgrims to visit the other country to observe various religious festivals or occasions every year. The official press release claimed that the issuance of these pilgrimage visas is a part of the Pakistani government's bid to strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Farmers are jubilant over the festival as for them Baisakhi marks the time for harvest of rabi crops. For the predominant Sikh population of Punjab Baisakhi is one the biggest festival as it marks the foundation day of Khalsa Panth by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Sikh community located anywhere in the world celebrate Baisakhi by participating in the special prayer meets and Baisakhi processions.