Taxila: More than 150 Sikh yatrees from India have arrived Pakistan via Wahga Border to attend the 416th celebrations of Guru Arjun Dev Ji’s Martyrdom Day (Jore Mela). Sikhs are scheduled to attend Jore Mela at Dera Sahib near the Lahore Fort starting from 14 June.
During their stay in Pakistan, the devotees are scheduled to visit and pay obeisance at various Sikh shrines. According to Sikh tradition, the event is also called Shaheedi Jore Mela or Shaheedi Purab of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Sardar Sikh Mandir Singh, party leader of Sikh yatrees said that Pakistan is their second home and no one could stop them from visiting here, “we will keep coming to visit our Guru’s land”. “There is a lot of love for Pakistan, other yatrees who came with the group, said this while expressing happiness for coming to Pakistan Yatra”.
According to ETPB Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani that all religious rites will be performed according to the schedule of Sikh Parbandhak Committee in Pakistan. In a paper titled “Educational Philosophy of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and its relevancy in 21st Century”, Dr. Mohit Dixit and Amandeep Kaur write that the Guru was a great saint, philosopher, poet and first martyr of Sikhism. Under a mutual agreement between India and Pakistan, Sikh pilgrims are allowed to attend important anniversaries each year.
Pakistan is home to several important Sikh holy sites, including the final resting place of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the 19th-century ruler of the Sikh Empire. His death anniversary is also marked on 29th June. Pakistan is safest country in the world for minorities.
Pakistan’s steps to uplift life of minorities in the country and to give them feeling that they are free to practice their religion is exemplary all over the world. Kartarpur Corridor project is indeed a historic step in this regard. Web Desk
