Baisakhi 2026: Sikh jatha head to Pakistan for celebrations; here’s why this journey matters

PTC Web Desk:  At least 2,840 Sikh pilgrims on Friday departed for Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border to celebrate Baisakhi and visit revered gurdwaras there. The devotees have been granted a 10-day visa for the religious pilgrimage.

Out of the total, 1,763 pilgrims are part of a jatha organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The group was flagged off amid chants of “Bole So Nihal… Sat Sri Akal”. The jatha is being led by SGPC member Surjit Singh Tughalwala.

According to SGPC officials, 1,795 visa applications were submitted for the pilgrimage, out of which 1,763 were approved, while 32 applications were rejected. The pilgrims are scheduled to return to India on April 19 after completing their religious visit.

Pilgrims from other Sikh bodies are also part of the journey. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has sent 409 devotees, while the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has sent 255 pilgrims. Together, these groups make up the total of 2,840 pilgrims visiting Pakistan for the occasion.

The pilgrimage coincides with Baisakhi, also observed as Khalsa Sajna Diwas, which will be celebrated on April 14. The day commemorates the foundation of Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699 and holds immense religious significance for the Sikh community.

During interactions with officials, several pilgrims urged both governments to ease the visa process and allow more devotees to undertake such religious yatrasThey also demanded the reopening of the route to Kartarpur Sahib for broader access and called for the removal of the $20 fee imposed by Pakistan.