Photo: Express News
After celebrating Vaisakhi Mela and Khalsa Sajna Diwas, Indian Sikh pilgrims bid farewell to the beautiful memories of Pakistan’s land as they returned to India. Many pilgrims bid farewell to the land of Pakistan with tears in their eyes, saying that they are taking the soil of their ancestors as a gift to their homes.
Samreen Jeet Kaur, a resident of Haryana state in India, who visited Pakistan for the first time, felt sad when she reached the Wagah border to return to her country after a ten-day pilgrimage. She expressed that she had various apprehensions and concerns when she first came to Pakistan, but now, as she leaves, it feels like she is parting with loved ones. She never imagined that the people of Pakistan would be so loving and welcoming.
Samreen Jeet Kaur stated that what she had heard about Pakistan through Indian media was completely opposite to what she experienced here. The people here are extremely hospitable. The hospitality of Lahore’s residents will always be remembered.
Another woman, Parm Jeet Kaur, mentioned that she is leaving with beautiful memories of her home and her ancestors’ land. She is taking a little soil from the Gujranwala region, where her grandparents lived, to show to her parents. Although she couldn’t visit her paternal home, she is taking the soil of that area that will remind her parents of their roots.
Around 2500 Sikh pilgrims visited Pakistan on April 13 to celebrate the Vaisakhi Mela and Khalsa Sajna Diwas. The head of the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Punjab’s Minister for Minority Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, along with Additional Secretary Shrines Board Shaireen Rana Shahid Saleem, bid farewell to the Indian guests. The Indian Sikh pilgrims thanked the Pakistani government and especially the Shrines Board for the excellent arrangements in Pakistan.
Party leader Sardar Kultar Singh expressed gratitude towards the Pakistani government and Trust Board administration, stating that Pakistan is a homeland for minorities, and the facilities provided here were exceptional. The respect received in Pakistan cannot be put into words.
Group Leader Sardar Daljit Singh from the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee said that the programs organized in their honor were appreciable. Lahore’s love is exemplary, and the hospitality shown by the Chief Minister of Punjab is commendable.
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, the head of the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in Pakistan, emphasized that minorities in Pakistan have complete protection and religious freedom, as well as access to education and employment opportunities. A Sikh woman was appointed as the committee’s Secretary General, which shows respect for diversity.
He told the Indian Sikhs that Pakistan is their second home, and they are welcome to visit whenever they want. The Indian guests are carrying a message of love, peace, and brotherhood from here.
Additional Secretary Rana Shahid Saleem of the Trust Board assured that they are always ready to host guests from neighboring countries. The federal and provincial governments have taken excellent measures for the pilgrims, with the functioning of all relevant agencies being commendable.
At the Wagah border, where Indian Sikh pilgrims praised the hospitality of Pakistan, delegates from the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee also appealed to improve the transportation, accommodation, and food facilities provided to pilgrims, as some arrangements were unsatisfactory.
During the stay at the Dera Sahib Gurdwara in Lahore, Indian Sikh pilgrim Jangir Singh, who passed away due to a heart attack, was transported back to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border. The 67-year-old Indian citizen had been rushed to Mayo Hospital in Lahore for immediate treatment when he had a heart attack, but unfortunately, he could not be saved, and doctors confirmed his death.