New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) A delegation of Sikh devotees on Thursday departed for Pakistan from Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib here to visit their holy places on the occasion of the coming festival of Baisakhi.
A total of 2,840 devotees from across the country are part of the pilgrimage, including 409 participants from Delhi.
A devotee setting off on the journey said: “It is a matter of great joy that, following ‘Operation Sindoor,’ the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee made representations to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Both in November and now, the Ministry has granted permission for a special jatha (contingent), enabling us to visit the holy sites. A total of 2,840 people are going from across the country, including 409 from Delhi.”
“All these devotees will visit various gurdwaras and are scheduled to return on April 19. We are happy that, despite the challenging situation prevailing in the world, we have received this opportunity. I pray that our Guru brings peace,” the devotee told IANS.
Another devotee embarking on the journey said, “We thank the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. After reaching there and offering our prayers, we will express our gratitude to both the Committee and the Government of India. Today, we will proceed directly to Amritsar, and our onward journey will begin from there.”
Baisakhi will be celebrated on April 14, marking the harvest festival and the Punjabi New Year. It is a time for gatherings, gratitude, and traditional celebrations.
The origins of Baisakhi trace back to the harvest of rabi (winter) crops, especially wheat, symbolising prosperity and joy. Baisakhi also holds immense religious significance in Sikhism as it commemorates the formation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. On this day, the tenth Sikh Guru initiated the Khalsa, a collective body of baptised Sikhs, emphasising equality, courage, and devotion.
–IANS
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