Sikh celebrations of Guru Nanaks 538th birth anniversary in Pakistan were on Saturday confined to the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib due to security threats.
By Ravinder Singh Robin
Amritsar, Nov.24 : Sikh celebrations of Guru Nanak's 538th birth anniversary in Pakistan were on Saturday confined to the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib due to security threats.
Over 20,000 Sikh devotees assembled at Nankana Sahib to celebrate the event.
Talking to ANI from Pakistan, Bishen Singh, the president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (PSGPC), informed that senior Pakistan Government officials and the PSGPC decided against the taking out of a nagar kirtan, but this had in no way dampened the spirit of Gurpurb.
The Jathedar of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, is also said to have advised Bishan Singh to abstain from holding gurmat samagam and nagar kirtan in the wake of the emergency in Pakistan.
Bishen Singh said that the PSGPC respected Jathedar Vedanti's concerns about the safety of Sikh devotees in Pakistan.
"We were assured by the Pakistan Government about the safety of Sikh devotees who have come here from around the world to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev," he said.
Sources in Pakistan revealed that not only was the nagar kirtan stopped, but an administrative order was issued for the closure of all shops in the area.
ANI