For the first time after Independence, the ‘Nagar Kirtan’, which was taken out from Nankana Sahib district of Pakistan’s Punjab province, arrived in Attari on August 1 to mark the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

The ‘Nagar Kirtan’ (religious procession) carrying the holy Guru Granth Sahib crossed over to India from Pakistan through the land transit route of the Attari border.

Several ministers of the Punjab government, along with senior officials of the Amritsar district administration received the Nagar Kirtan at the border. The top leadership of the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was also present.

On July 30, nearly 500 Sikh devotees had crossed over to Pakistan to bring the ‘Nagar Kirtan’ to India.

An official of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an apex religious body of Sikhs, said a large cavalcade followed the religious procession from Gurdwara Nankana Sahib to Wagah border amid a thick security cover. The SGPC was involved in organising the event with the support from both Indian and Pakistani authorities.

Gurdwara Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, which is located in Pakistan.

550th birth anniversary

The year 2019 marks the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the great saint and founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak’s teachings of love, peace and brotherhood hold universal appeal.

Considering the significance of this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constituted a National Implementation Committee (NIC) under the chairmanship of the Union home minister with finance minister and minister of state for culture as members, for the commemoration of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in the country and abroad.

The central government has decided to organise various activities as part of the celebrations.

Other key decisions

* Development of Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, to the international border. Foundation stone for the project was laid on November 26, 2018.

* Development of Sultanpur Lodhi as a heritage town on the Smart City principles.

* Upgradation of Sultanpur Lodhi railway station with all modern amenities and run a train passing through various holy places associated with Guru Nanak Dev for pilgrims and tourists.

* Release of a commemorative coin and postage stamps.

* Setting up of a Centre for Inter-Faith Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and to organise an international seminar on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev.

* To set up chairs on Guru Nanak Dev in one university each in the UK and Canada.

* Religious activities like Kirtan, Katha, Prabhat Pheri and Langar to be organised throughout the country, especially at  gurdwaras.

* UNESCO to translate and publish an anthology of Guru Nanak Dev’s writings in world languages.