Nearly 700 Indian Sikh pilgrims have crossed the Attari-Wagah border into Pakistan to mark the 420th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, with pilgrims from both countries set to observe the occasion jointly for the first time in 14 years.
Nearly 700 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, via the Attari-Wagah border crossing to take part in ceremonies marking the 420th martyrdom anniversary of the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in what officials described as a milestone in cross-border religious engagement.
Joint Observance After 14-Year Gap
The commemorations will be jointly observed by Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan and India for the first time in 14 years, following the resolution of long-standing issues related to the observance date of Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom anniversary.
Indian Sikh delegation leader Sardar Parmjeet Singh said issues regarding the observance date had persisted for the past 14 years. He expressed appreciation for the welcome extended by Pakistan and the arrangements made for the religious events.
Another Sikh leader from India, Gurmeet Singh Gaggi, described the gathering of Sikh devotees from both countries after 14 years as a positive and memorable occasion and acknowledged the cooperation extended by the Pakistani authorities.
Sikh Pilgrims Welcomed at Wagah Border
Speaking at the Wagah border reception ceremony, Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs and President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, said around 700 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan.
Arora said Sikh devotees had been waiting for such an opportunity in previous years, and the arrival of the Indian pilgrims this year had created a historic moment.
Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq welcomed the visiting pilgrims and confirmed that Pakistan had issued 737 visas to Indian Sikh devotees for the occasion.
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had jointly arranged reception facilities at the Wagah border. In view of the intense heat, cold drinking water, refreshments and other facilities had been provided for the pilgrims. Special measures had also been taken to expedite immigration and customs clearance procedures.
Pilgrimage Organised by SGPC Through Attari-Wagah
On the Indian side, the pilgrimage was organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The SGPC had sent the passports of 561 pilgrims for visas, out of which 541 were cleared for travel by the Pakistan High Commission while the applications of 20 pilgrims were rejected. The group of pilgrims is led by SGPC member Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan.
Devotees said that the visit is not only a religious obligation but also an important opportunity to connect with Sikh history, heritage and spirituality. The pilgrimage was marked by enthusiasm among the devotees and their close family members and relatives.
Major Singh, a devotee from Moga district, said that he was visiting the holy places for the first time and his entire family was happy and excited about the journey.
Another pilgrim, Lakhvinder Singh Lakha Salempuri, said his prayers to visit various gurdwaras were going to be fulfilled.
As a special gesture, the Indian government opened the international border with Pakistan to facilitate the pilgrimage. Otherwise, the border has been lying closed since Operation Sindoor.
Itinerary and Main Ceremony at Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore
The main ceremony of the martyrdom anniversary and Jor Mela will be held at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on June 16. The gurdwara is built on the site where Guru Arjan Dev Ji attained martyrdom in 1606 and is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism.
The pilgrims were transported to Nankana Sahib in special buses following their arrival. During their stay, the pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, Narowal and Dera Sahib Lahore. They will return to India by June 20.
Around 500 Sikhs from India are also expected to come to Pakistan later this month to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Background
The 1974 Protocol on Religious Shrines
Cross-border pilgrimages between India and Pakistan are facilitated under the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, signed in 1974. Under the agreement, four Sikh jathas travel annually to Pakistan for pilgrimage to Sikh gurdwaras. However, the last time a jatha visited Pakistan for the martyrdom anniversary of the fifth Sikh Guru was in June 2013.
The 14-year gap was caused by a combination of disagreements over the observance date and periods of heightened bilateral tensions, including the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor and the border following the 2025 skirmish between the two neihbouring countries.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606) was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus. He compiled the Adi Granth, the first edition of the Sikh holy scripture, and oversaw the construction of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. He was martyred in Lahore in 1606 under Mughal Emperor Jahangir, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib stands at the site of his martyrdom. His sacrifice is commemorated annually as Shahidi Gurpurab, also known as Shahidi Jor Mela.
What’s Next
The main commemorative ceremony at Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore on June 16 will be the focal point of the pilgrimage, with Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan and India participating together for the first time in over a decade. The successful facilitation of this visit, despite the broader closure of the India-Pakistan border, may set a precedent for future cross-border pilgrimages. A further group of approximately 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims is expected to travel to Pakistan later this month for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which will serve as a further test of the continued functioning of the 1974 protocol.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 11, 2026
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