Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has announced the schedule of two major Sikh-religious events held in Pakistan this month, despite running tensions and the continued suspension of cross-border movement between India and Pakistan.
According to the official schedule, the year of death of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Jor Mela) is commemorated on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. The year of death for Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be observed on June 29 at Hans Samadhi, also located in Lahore.
SIKH pilgrims from around the world, including India, have been invited to participate. Due to strained diplomatic ties, India is unlikely to issue the required no objection certificates (NOCs) for Indian pilgrims to travel to Pakistan, according to sources.
Pakistan has expressed his emergency preparedness to facilitate cross -border pilgrimage. ETPB has completed all necessary events for potential arrivals, including security, accommodation and transport across important religious places.
If India gives travel permits, the first group of pilgrims is expected to arrive on foot via the Wagah border on Monday, June 9. The group begins their pilgrimage at NANKANA SAHIB, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, visiting local gurdwaras during a two-day stay.
Pilgrims then continue to Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, followed by a visit to Hassan Abdal on June 11. They are scheduled to live at Gurdwara Panja Saj on June 12 and are expected to visit the nearby shrine of the Muslim Saint Baba Wali Qandhari.
On June 13, the group will travel to Narowal to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and will be until June 14. They continue to Lahore via Gurdwara Rori SaHib in Eminabad on June 15.
The largest religious ceremony for Guru Arjan Dev Jis Martyrdom, including the Bhog Akhand -trail SaHib ritual, will be held on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib. Pilgrims remain in Lahore on June 17 and return to India via Wagah on June 18.
Another group of Indian pilgrims is scheduled to arrive on Sunday, June 22 for the year of death for Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They will begin their visit to Nankana Saj on June 23, before traveling to Hassan Abdal via Farooqabad on June 24.
The group will be staying at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on June 25, Gurdwara will visit Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on June 26 to June 27 and travel to Lahore on June 28. The main ceremony at Samadhi by Maharaja Ranjit Singh will take place on June 29, with Bhog akhand Path Sahib.
Pilgrims spend June 30 in Lahore and departs to India on July 1, 2025.
ETPB officials said all events have been made to ensure a safe, comfortable and spiritually fulfilling pilgrim experience, conditional on Indian approval of cross-border travel.
