84 Sikh Pilgrims Arrive in Pakistan for 'Jor Mela'

Lahore, Jun 8 (PTI) Eighty-four Sikh devotees from India arrived today in Pakistan on a special train to observe the death anniversary of fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev on June 16.

The pilgrims were received at the Wagah railway station by officials of the Evacuee Trust Properties Board (ETPB), including secretary Tariq Khan, Imran Gondal and Amir Hashmi and chairman of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee Sardar Tara Singh.

ETPB spokesman Amir Hashmi told PTI that 84 Sikh pilgrims arrived to attend the fair held annually to observe the death anniversary of their fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev.

According to Sikhism, the event is also called Shaheedi Jor Mela or Shaheedi Purab of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

During their stay in Pakistan, the devotees are scheduled to visit and pay obeisance at various Sikh shrines.

The pilgrims left for Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal and would return to Gurdwara Dera Sahib on June 16 to attend the main event, he said, adding that they would leave for India on June 17.

Visiting Sikh group leader Sardar Jang Singh said Pakistan is a second home of the pilgrims.

"We come here to pay homage to our gurus. We love this land," he said and stressed for more people-to-people contact.

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