Thursday, August 27, 2020

Pak Gurdwara Body to India :Open Kartarpur Corridor on Guru Nanak’s Joti Jot Diwas



PSGPC president Satwant Singh presided over a meeting at the Evacuee Trust Property Board’s head office in Lahore to make arrangements for observing Joti Jot Diwas at Kartarpur

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) on Wednesday urged the Indian government to reopen the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh devotees on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s Joti Jot Diwas (day of immersion in eternal light) on September 20.

The PSGPC chief said, “We are marking the occasion for the first time after the opening of the corridor at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. We want the corridor to be opened from today itself. But if that is not possible, it should be opened on the day. We request the Indian government to allow the passage of Sikh sangat through the corridor to take part in the function being organised from September 20 to 22.”

They also want the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the affairs of gurdwaras in Punjab and other states of India, to send special jathas of ragis (hymn singers) on the occasion, he said.

“We also invite SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to be part of the function,” he said.

The PSGPC chief said they will also follow the Covid-19 guidelines of the health agencies during the visit of the Sikh sangat through the corridor. Special arrangements will be made for maintaining social distancing, he added.

India temporarily suspended the pilgrimage to the Kartarpur gurdwara on March 16 in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Pakistan had also closed the corridor soon after. On June 29, Pakistan had announced that they have reopened the corridor for the pilgrims from India. The Indian government, however, is yet to take a decision on the matter.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/open-kartarpur-corridor-on-guru-nanak-s-joti-jot-diwas-pak-gurdwara-body-to-india/story-BBSr6pWVf9DYM6cxWB1CYO.html

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

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