The celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary took a controversial turn on Tuesday when a group of Hindu devotees accompanying Sikh pilgrims was denied entry into Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah border, despite having completed immigration formalities.
While the first contingent of Indian Sikh pilgrims successfully crossed over to attend the 556th Parkash Purab at Gurdwara Janamsthan in Nankana Sahib, several Hindu travellers said they were stopped abruptly and turned back after being told that only Sikh pilgrims were permitted on the official jatha.
‘You Are Hindu, You Can’t Go’: Pilgrims Describe Humiliating Experience
According to The Times of India, families from Delhi and Lucknow who had joined the group “walked back humiliated” when Pakistani officials refused to let them board buses heading for Nankana Sahib.
“They told us, ‘You are Hindu, you can’t go with the Sikh jatha,’” said Amar Chand, a devotee from Delhi.
The devotees said they had valid visas and completed all immigration checks, even purchasing bus tickets before being stopped at the final stage.
Pakistan had approved around 2,100 visas for Indian pilgrims, of which 1,796 Sikhs were allowed to proceed. Nearly 300 travellers, including both Sikhs and Hindus, were refused entry officially for “procedural lapses.” However, some of the Hindus claim religious discrimination was the real reason.
Government Sources Clarify Pakistan’s Discretion
According to Indian government officials quoted by News18, some of those turned back were former Pakistan residents who had since acquired Indian citizenship. “Their visit was reportedly not for pilgrimage but to meet acquaintances,” a source said.
Officials added that since entry permissions fall under Pakistan’s sovereign jurisdiction, India could not formally contest the decision.
Parkash Purab Celebrations Proceed in Nankana Sahib
Despite the controversy, the Sikh jatha continued its journey to Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, where the main celebrations are being held on November 5.
The pilgrimage marks the first official Indian delegation to visit Pakistan since recent military tensions following Operation Sindoor, India’s precision strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan and PoK after the Pahalgam terror attack in April.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had initially denied permission for the yatra due to security concerns, but later approved it following appeals from Sikh religious bodies, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
A Pilgrimage Shadowed by Politics
While the Sikh pilgrims’ visit is seen as a symbolic bridge of faith, the denial of entry to Hindu devotees has sparked disappointment among Indian religious groups.
What was meant to be a celebration of spiritual unity has instead underscored the fragile ties between the two neighbours, even in moments of shared reverence.
