New Delhi [India]: India has granted permission for selected Sikh jathas (pilgrim groups) to travel to Pakistan to participate in the upcoming Prakash Purab celebrations, marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, sources said on Wednesday.

The pilgrimage will be conducted under the framework of the 1974 India-Pakistan bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines. However, only selected groups recommended by the respective state governments will be allowed to undertake the journey.

Approval process for the pilgrimage

According to sources, the state government concerned will forward recommendations to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Based on the MEA’s inputs, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will grant the final clearance for the visits.

Earlier this month, the Indian government had temporarily barred Sikh pilgrims from visiting Pakistan for the 2025 Prakash Purab celebrations, citing prevailing security concerns and tensions between the two countries. The recent approval, however, signals a relaxation of that earlier restriction for selected pilgrims.

Pilgrimage details

Sikh devotees from India will cross over to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border, visiting prominent gurdwaras associated with Guru Nanak Dev, including Nankana Sahib, his birthplace, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will facilitate the groups in coordination with Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).

Every year, thousands of Sikh pilgrims travel across the border to mark key religious occasions such as Prakash Purab, Baisakhi, and the Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. While the Kartarpur Corridor, opened in 2019, enables visa-free travel to Kartarpur Sahib, larger pilgrim groups continue to travel under the traditional 1974 protocol arrangements.

Security and logistics

Officials from both India and Pakistan are reportedly coordinating security and logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth pilgrimage. The government’s decision reflects efforts to balance religious freedom and bilateral security considerations.