Amritsar: At least 14 Hindu devotees from Delhi and Lucknow were reportedly sent back to India after crossing into Pakistan as part of a Sikh jatha (group) visiting the neighbouring country for Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary celebrations, according to a report.
Pakistani officials allegedly stopped the Hindu pilgrims, stating that only Sikh devotees were permitted to participate in the religious visit marking Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Parkash Purb.
“Pakistani officials told us, ‘You are Hindu, you cannot go with a Sikh jatha,’”
said Amar Chand, one of the devotees from Delhi who was turned back along with six family members.
Incident Details: Hindus Denied Entry After Crossing into Pakistan
A jatha comprising nearly 1,900 Sikh pilgrims crossed into Pakistan through the Attari–Wagah border on Tuesday to take part in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.
Amar Chand and his family were part of this group and had reportedly completed all the immigration and customs formalities before being asked to disembark from a special bus arranged for pilgrims.
“We spent ₹95,000 (in Pakistani currency) on bus tickets for all seven members,” Chand told PTI.
“Later, five Pakistani officials came and asked us and seven others from Lucknow to get down from the bus. They said we were Hindu and could not travel with a Sikh jatha. Then they sent us back.”
He also claimed that the money spent on the bus tickets was not refunded, despite repeated requests.
Returned After Crossing the Border
Chand, who was originally a Pakistani national before moving to India in 1999 and gaining Indian citizenship in 2010, said that the group was escorted back to the Indian side after the incident.
Indian border officials reportedly questioned their Pakistani counterparts about the reason for the deportation, but the latter stood firm, insisting that the Sikh pilgrimage was not open to non-Sikh visitors.
The 14 individuals — seven from Delhi and seven from Lucknow — were all returned to India after being stopped in Pakistan.
Additional Visa Denials
In a separate instance, around 300 individuals who had independently applied for visas to visit Pakistan for the event were turned back at the Indian side of the border, as they did not have required approvals from the Union Home Ministry, according to an NDTV report.
Guru Nanak Jayanti Jatha in Pakistan
Meanwhile, the Sikh jatha that successfully crossed into Pakistan on November 4 will stay there until November 13. During their visit, pilgrims will pay obeisance at several sacred sites, including:
- Gurdwara Nankana Sahib (the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji)
- Gurdwara Panja Sahib
- Gurdwara Sacha Sauda
- Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur
Background: Centre’s Initial Reluctance
Earlier, the Indian government had initially refused to allow a Sikh jatha to travel to Pakistan for the Parkash Purb celebrations, citing security concerns in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and strained ties between the two nations.
However, the Union Government later granted permission for a limited group of Sikh pilgrims to visit gurdwaras across Pakistan under strict security and diplomatic protocols.
Key Takeaways
- 🚫 14 Hindu devotees from Delhi and Lucknow denied entry into Pakistan.
- 🛂 Pakistani officials told them: “You are Hindu, you cannot go with a Sikh jatha.”
- 💰 Pilgrims claim they spent ₹95,000 on bus tickets that were not refunded.
- 🇮🇳 300 others turned back at Indian border over lack of Home Ministry approval.
- 🕊️ Sikh jatha of 1,900 pilgrims visiting Pakistan from Nov 4–13 for Guru Nanak Jayanti.