In a move that has brought cheer to the Sikh community, the Government of India has granted permission for Sikh pilgrims to travel to Pakistan on the occasion of Gurpurab 2025, allowing devotees to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at shrines across the border.
The Union Home Ministry issued a clarification stating that the traditional jathas (delegations of devotees) that journey every year to historic gurdwaras in Pakistan will be allowed to go this time as well. The decision comes after weeks of uncertainty, during which Sikh bodies had voiced concern that earlier restrictions would prevent the pilgrimage.
The clearance means that thousands of devotees will now be able to pay homage at sacred sites including Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal — both deeply significant in Sikh history.
The development follows sustained appeals from Sikh organisations, including the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Its leaders had urged the Centre to reconsider the earlier directive, pointing out the spiritual importance of the pilgrimage. DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka and General Secretary Jagdip Singh Kahlo thanked the government for respecting Sikh sentiments and ensuring that pilgrims will not be denied the opportunity this year.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also welcomed the decision, describing it as a gesture of reverence. He recalled that in 2019, despite strained ties with Pakistan, the Centre had facilitated the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Purab. “This year’s permission carries the same spirit,” Sirsa said, while urging bodies like the SGPC and DSGMC to expedite passport and visa formalities for their jathas.
The announcement has been met with relief among Sikh families who had been preparing for the annual journey. Many noted that beyond its spiritual value, the pilgrimage strengthens the community’s bond with its ancestral roots in present-day Pakistan.
The DSGMC has appealed to devotees intending to travel to submit their documents promptly so that the administrative process can be completed without delays. With the Centre’s nod in place, preparations for the pilgrimage are expected to begin immediately.