Guru Granth Sahib to be installed in Pakistan Gurdwara

The Pakistan Government has allowed the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, in the Janam Asthan Gurdwara Guru Ram Dass in Lahore.

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Wagah, Oct 6 : The Pakistan Government has allowed the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, in the Janam Asthan Gurdwara Guru Ram Dass in Lahore.

The installation would be held on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Dass, the fourth Sikh Guru and founder of the holy city of Amritsar, on October 9, said Parmjit Singh Sarna, the President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) here on Saturday.

"This step would enhance the people to people contact between the two countries," said Sarna.

Guru Ram Dass was born in 1534.

Leading a delegation of nearly 350 devotees, Sarna today crossed over to Pakistan via Attari - Wagah land border to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Dass in Lahore.

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has been carrying out Kar Sewa of Janam Asthan Gurdwara Ram Dass at Chuna Mandi, Lahore since 2005.

The renovation work of the Gurdwara would be completed by the end of this year, said Sarna.

Speaking about the difficulties faced by people in obtaining visa at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, Sarna said that a delegation has already met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the visa issue and requested him to set up a visa-centre at Amritsar.

He said that a request would be made to Pakistan Government to provide an on-arrival visa to Sikh devotees from India.

A "Cancer Detection Van" is also accompanying Sarna to Pakistan.

The van would travel in the villages near historical Gurdwaras in Pakistan for three months; and would examine the Pakistani patients who are suffering from cancer.

He said the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee would provide medical facilities to the affected patients.

ANI