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A Delhi-based Hindu family was reportedly denied entry into Pakistan to join the Sikh jatha travelling for the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. According to Amar Chand, the head of the family, Pakistani officials turned them back at the Attari-Wagah border after telling them they could not travel with Sikh pilgrims. A jatha (group) of nearly 1,900 Sikh pilgrims had crossed over to Pakistan on Tuesday (November 4, 2025) for the annual ‘Parkash Purb’ celebrations. The pilgrims are scheduled to visit prominent Sikh shrines including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib between November 4 and 13. ‘You are Hindu, you cannot go with a Sikh jatha’: Amar Chand Amar Chand, who was part of the group travelling to Pakistan, told PTI that he and his six family members had completed all immigration formalities at the Attari-Wagah land route, purchased their tickets, and boarded the special bus arranged for the pilgrims. “We spent Rs 95,000 (Pakistani currency) on bus tickets for all seven members. But just as we boarded, five Pakistani officials came and asked us to get down. They told us, ‘you are Hindu, you cannot go with a Sikh jatha,’” Chand said. He added that despite their attempts to clarify that they were travelling for religious purposes, the Pakistani authorities sent them back to India. “Indian officials at the border even questioned the Pakistani authorities about the decision, but they were unmoved,” he said. Chand claimed that the money spent on tickets was not refunded, leaving his family disappointed and financially burdened. Family alleges discrimination despite proper documentation Chand, who was originally a Pakistani national and moved to India in 1999, obtained Indian citizenship in 2010. He said that all seven family members had valid travel permits and were eager to pay their respects at Sikh gurdwaras during the sacred event. “There was no issue with our paperwork. We had valid passports, visas, and pilgrimage permissions. The objection was raised only on the basis of our faith,” he alleged. Chand further claimed that seven other Indian citizens from Lucknow were also denied entry into Pakistan under similar circumstances. Pakistan denies entry to Hindu pilgrims amid celebrations The jatha of Sikh pilgrims entered Pakistan as part of a bilateral arrangement between the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in Pakistan and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in India. The visit, organised annually to commemorate Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, usually sees participation from thousands of devotees across India and the diaspora. While Sikh pilgrims were allowed to proceed, the incident involving Hindu devotees has sparked concerns of religious discrimination. Officials from the SGPC and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have not issued a formal response yet, though Indian border officials reportedly raised the matter with their Pakistani counterparts at the time of the incident. Pilgrims continue celebrations at historic gurdwaras Despite the controversy, the rest of the jatha safely crossed into Pakistan and began their itinerary. The pilgrims will visit key religious sites, including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib (the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji), Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. The celebrations, which mark 556 years since the birth of Guru Nanak, are expected to conclude on November 13. Meanwhile, Amar Chand has appealed to Indian authorities to take up the matter diplomatically to ensure that pilgrims of all faiths can participate freely in future religious exchanges. “We only went to pray, not to create trouble. Faith should not be restricted by religion,” he said.
