Title - Baisakhi festival: Arrangements to facilitate pilgrims finalised

As many as 6,000 Sikh pilgrims will start arriving at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal from April 10 to celebrate the 313th Baisakhi festival. The arrangements for the festival, including accommodation and security, have been finalised by the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB). The pilgrims will cross over from the Wagah Border and will be taken to Punja Sahab on special trains from April 11 to 13. “They will perform their final rituals on April 14. After visiting Punja Sahib, they will visit Nankana Sahib and other places, and then return to Lahore,” said an official of EPTB. The official said the board has completed the renovation and decoration of the Gurdwara, while additional rooms for accommodation have been constructed by the government. Every year, thousands of Sikhs from across the world, especially from India and parts of Pakistan, gather to attend their religious festival, where they perform rites such as Akhand, Paath Sahib, Bhog, Ardas and Hukamnama. Baisakhi is an ancient harvest festival which marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season. Although originally a harvest festival, the establishment of the Khalsa (pure) order on April 13, 1699 led to it becoming the most prominent festival in Sikhism. On that day, Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Sikh Guru), established that all human beings are equal. Sikhism in its present form owes its existence to that day. After that day, the tradition of Gurus was put to an end by the Sikhs and later the Guru Granth Sahib scripture was declared as their eternal guide and holy book by the 10th Guru.