Sikh pilgrims worldwide hit by India’s travel ban

Gian Singh Gill regularly leads Sikh groups from British Columbia to Pakistan for the annual pilgrimage to Sikh shrines. He is worried that a recent travel ban in India on pilgrimage to Pakistan will have an impact even to those already here in Canada.

“Many Canadian Sikhs used to first visit their families in India and then cross the border with Indian groups to visit gurdwaras in Pakistan. But this time, they are forced to stay in places like Dubai or Turkey before entering Pakistan, which has become a major challenge,” Gill said in an interview with OMNI News.

“Such pilgrimages are a time when Sikhs from across the world gather and meet. But this year, devotees from India and abroad won’t be able to connect in Pakistan.”

Many sacred Sikh shrines remained in Pakistan after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, but cross-border agreements have allowed Sikh devotees from India and around the world to travel to Pakistan and visit these gurdwaras.

But with heightened diplomatic tensions this year, the Indian government has blocked the pilgrimage to Pakistan, citing security concerns. This move has deeply impacted not just Indian Sikhs but the wider Sikh diaspora, including those in Canada.

Another Canadian pilgrim, Bhai Gurcharan Singh, also expressed disappointment, saying, “Many people will miss out on this spiritual journey, and the government’s decision will especially affect ordinary pilgrims.”

While religious visits have been halted, India continues to encourage sporting ties like cricket with Pakistan.

Giani Harmitter Singh, a regular pilgrim to Pakistan, says that while his family has received visas for Pakistan, they won’t be able to go because of the Indian government’s decision. He questioned the move, saying, “If cricket matches between India and Pakistan can happen, why not religious pilgrimages?”

In India, the Sikh pilgrim groups are usually led by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body elected for the management of gurdwara and Sikh religious affairs.

The SGPC, the Punjab government, and several other organizations have criticized the Indian government’s decision and have written letters to India’s Home Ministry, requesting a reversal.

Sikh devotees visit Pakistan every year for major religious events like Vaisakhi, the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary, and the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Most Sikh devotees from across the world enter Pakistan via India.