📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Paulrudd
Religion
7,500 Pilgrims Submit Passports for Pakistan Trip During Guru Parv in Amritsar
✍️ Amar Ujala · Amritsar
🗓 10 Nov 2026, 05:01 PM
👁 13
Around 7,500 residents of Amritsar have handed in their passports to travel to Pakistan for the Guru Parv celebrations, officials said.
Amritsar authorities reported that roughly 7,500 people have submitted their passports to the regional passport office for a pilgrimage to Pakistan coinciding with the Guru Parv festivities. The surge reflects the deep religious sentiment among Sikh devotees who travel to holy sites in Pakistan, such as Nankana Sahib, during the birth‑anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.
Guru Parv, observed annually in November, marks the birth of Sikhism’s founder and draws thousands of pilgrims from India and abroad. This year, the number of passport applications filed in Amritsar suggests a higher-than‑usual demand for cross‑border travel, as devotees seek to attend the ceremonial prayers and community meals held at the historic gurdwaras in Pakistan.
The Punjab passport office confirmed that the applications are being processed under the existing India‑Pakistan pilgrimage protocol, which allows for a simplified visa procedure for Sikh pilgrims. Security agencies from both countries are coordinating to ensure safe passage for the travelers, and travel agencies are already arranging group tours for the expected departure dates in early December.
Officials cautioned that while passport submission is the first step, final travel permissions depend on the issuance of visas and the completion of health and security clearances. They urged applicants to keep their documents updated and to follow official guidelines to avoid last‑minute complications.
If all formalities are completed, the pilgrims are expected to travel to Pakistan within the next two weeks, joining thousands of Sikh faithful who gather at Nankana Sahib and other sacred sites to commemorate Guru Nanak’s legacy.
Guru Parv, observed annually in November, marks the birth of Sikhism’s founder and draws thousands of pilgrims from India and abroad. This year, the number of passport applications filed in Amritsar suggests a higher-than‑usual demand for cross‑border travel, as devotees seek to attend the ceremonial prayers and community meals held at the historic gurdwaras in Pakistan.
The Punjab passport office confirmed that the applications are being processed under the existing India‑Pakistan pilgrimage protocol, which allows for a simplified visa procedure for Sikh pilgrims. Security agencies from both countries are coordinating to ensure safe passage for the travelers, and travel agencies are already arranging group tours for the expected departure dates in early December.
Officials cautioned that while passport submission is the first step, final travel permissions depend on the issuance of visas and the completion of health and security clearances. They urged applicants to keep their documents updated and to follow official guidelines to avoid last‑minute complications.
If all formalities are completed, the pilgrims are expected to travel to Pakistan within the next two weeks, joining thousands of Sikh faithful who gather at Nankana Sahib and other sacred sites to commemorate Guru Nanak’s legacy.