Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur): Twenty-eight pilgrims went to pay respect at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan, on Thursday, the first day of reopening the corridor after a gap for more than 20 months, ahead of birth birthday.
From the first Sikh Master, Teacher Nanak Dev, on November 19.
Pilgrims can cross when they enroll themselves before the corridor is closed due to a pandemic.
Corridor Links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, Teacher’s final resting place, to the Temple of Dera Baba Nanak – about 4.5 km from Pakistan – in the Gurdaspur District.
On the Pakistani side of the Corridor Kartarpur, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Project Management Unit (PMU), Kartarpur, along with the President of the Pakistani President Committee Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Ameer Singh, the Provincial Assembly of the Ramesh Singh Arora member, and the others received Indian worshipers and conferred Siropas (Honor robe) to them.
Speaking by telephone from Kartarpur Sahib, CEO, PMU, Kartarpur, Muhammad Latif said, “We have waited a long time for India to reopen the corridor, finally that day has arrived.” According to the source, the worshipers managed to go to Kartarpur Sahib on the first day reopen the corridor when they had registered to make a pilgrimage to the neighboring country before the temporary closure of the corridor and received a visa.
They were intimidated about previous permits.
“They showered the flower petals and their love for us when we reached Pakistan to pay for his heart at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib,” said Prabhjot Singh, a pilgrim after returning.
The corridor, inaugurated on November 9, 2019, was temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, containing the spread of Coronavirus.
However, Pakistan unilaterally announced the opening on October 2, 2020, but India did not reply because of the Covid-19 situation.
On Thursday, Minister of Punjab Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will lead his cabinet members to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
A day later, the President of the Parbandhak Committee Shiroman Gurdwara Jagir Kaur will lead another Sikh Jatha (a group of pilgrims) to Kartarpur Sahib where they will celebrate birthdays born 552 from Master Nanak Dev.
There is no online registration: Online registration to visit Kartarpur Sahib through a special website, https: //prakashpurb550.ma.gov.in which has not been opened.
After clicking ‘Apply online’, a message appears, “After the Pandemic Covid-19, as a precautionary measure to load and control the spread of disease, travel and registration for Sri Kartarpur Sahib while being suspended.” Rs 8,500 for a tour: The Pakistani government imposes Rs 8,500 (Pak Rupee) per pilgrim as a travel expense to visit all Gurdwaras mentioned on a trip from November 17-26.
Sources said the Pakistani committee of Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak (PSGPC) has arranged the bus to take pilgrims to form a wagah (Pakistan) of the international border and dropped them with 8,500 Rs payments, which were fought by several worshipers.
“Usually transportation costs are less than Rs 5,000, but PSGPC exploits us,” said a worshiper.