Around 2,100 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan through the Wagah Border on Tuesday to participate in the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh faith.

The visiting pilgrims were warmly received by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Punjab government.

Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora and ETPB Chairman Dr Sajid Mahmood welcomed the guests at the border.

The Sikh delegation is being led by Jathedar Akal Takht Kuldip Singh Gurgaj, BB Gurinder Kaur of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and Ravinder Singh Sweeta from the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee.

After their arrival, the pilgrims were taken to Nankana Sahib by special buses.

The central ceremony to mark Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary will be held on November 5 at Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.

The pilgrims will visit various gurdwaras during their stay and return to India on November 13.

Speaking to reporters, several pilgrims said it was an honour to visit Pakistan to celebrate Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary.

They expressed gratitude to the Pakistan government for its hospitality and the arrangements made for their transport, accommodation, food, and security.

Female pilgrims shared their excitement about visiting Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar for shopping and enjoying the city’s famous “fruit chaat”, “dahi bhallay”, and “gol gappay”.

The ETPB said all arrangements have been finalised to ensure a smooth and peaceful pilgrimage, with coordination among provincial authorities and law enforcement agencies.