As many as forty-eight Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan arrived at the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar to further commence their 25-day pilgrimage to different parts of India. Sikh pilgrims from different parts of Pakistan arrived at the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday.
During their 25-day visit, they will be visiting Amritsar’s Golden Temple, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Hemkund Sahib.
“48 Sikh pilgrims from Peshawar and other parts of Pakistan arrived at the Attari-Wagah border. They will be visiting Amritsar’s Golden Temple, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Hemkund Sahib. They will stay for 25 days, post which they will return,” said Arun Pal, Protocol officer.
Jatha leader Satinderpal Singh said they will first visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar and then go to Delhi and Uttarakhand.
“First we will go to the Golden Temple in Amritsar and then we will go to Delhi and Uttarakhand. Mainly, we are here to visit Hemkund Sahib. We have a 25-day visa,” said Singh.
Visas to Sikh pilgrims have been issued under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, which provides visas to pilgrims for the visit of Sikh pilgrims from both the countries.
The 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between India and Pakistan is a set of principles that were implemented while keeping in view the sentiments and devotion of the various communities in the two countries.
The protocol states that such visits from one country to the other shall be permitted without regard to religion or sect; up to 20 parties may be permitted to visit from one country to the other each year, with the number subject to revision at any time; and every effort should be made to ensure that places of religious worship mentioned in the agreed list are properly maintained and their sanctity is preserved, according to the Ministry of External Affairs .