India has granted permission for Sikh Jathas (teams of pilgrims) to journey to Pakistan to take part within the upcoming celebrations of Prakash Purab, the start anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founding father of Sikhism, sources stated.
The pilgrimage will likely be undertaken underneath the framework of the 1974 bilateral protocol on visits to non secular shrines.
Sources, nonetheless, clarified that “some chosen teams will likely be permitted as per the advice by the state authorities.”
“The state authorities involved will advocate to the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA). Appearing on MEA’s inputs, the Ministry of Residence Affairs (MHA) will give additional clearance for the go to, to jathas,” stated the sources, requesting anonymity.
The transfer is critical because the Indian authorities, earlier this month, had barred Sikh pilgrims (jathas) from visiting Pakistan for Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Parkash Purab celebrations in November 2025 as a consequence of prevailing safety issues and up to date tensions between the 2 nations.
As per the choice, Sikh devotees from India will cross over to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border and go to outstanding gurdwaras related to Guru Nanak Dev, together with Nankana Sahib, his birthplace, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur. The teams will likely be facilitated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in coordination with the Evacuee Belief Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan.
Yearly, 1000’s of Sikh pilgrims journey throughout the border to mark key spiritual events reminiscent of Prakash Purab, Baisakhi, and Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The association is a part of the longstanding 1974 India-Pakistan settlement, which permits restricted pilgrimages regardless of tense bilateral relations.
In recent times, the Kartarpur Hall, which opened in 2019 to facilitate visa-free journey of Sikh pilgrims to the Kartarpur Sahib shrine, has change into a key channel of non secular alternate. Nevertheless, bigger jathas proceed to journey underneath the normal protocol association.
Safety and logistical measures for the upcoming pilgrimage are learnt to be carefully coordinated by each the India and Pakistan governments to make sure the sleek motion of devotees.