Dhaka, Nov 20 (NationPress) A group of 70 Sikh pilgrims has departed from Amritsar for an extraordinary religious journey to Bangladesh, where they will engage in ceremonies honoring two crucial milestones in Sikh history — the 356th Parkash Purb (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev and the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, as reported on Thursday.

As per a report by Khalsa Vox, the Kar Sewa Sampardai of Sarhali coordinated the pilgrimage, which gathered at the Amritsar railway station before setting off. Before their departure, Baba Sukha Singh presented a 'Siropa', a traditional robe of honor, to the devotees. This Sampardai has been facilitating this annual pilgrimage for nearly two decades, starting from 2004.

Regarding the itinerary, Baba Sukha Singh and Baba Hakam Singh mentioned that the jatha will pay respects at several notable gurdwaras throughout Bangladesh. Their journey includes stops at Gurdwara Nanakshahi and Gurdwara Sangat Tola in Dhaka, Gurdwara Sikh Temple Estate and Gurdwara Sahib in Chatogram, and Gurdwara Guru Nanak Mandir in Mymensingh. The delegation will spend the following days participating in religious programs, offering prayers, and engaging in community activities at each location,” the report elaborated.

In a prior incident, Khalsa Vox reported that around 14 Hindu devotees — including eight from Delhi and others from Lucknow — who were part of a group traveling to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan’s Punjab province to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary, faced humiliation and were sent back by Pakistani authorities.

The Hindu pilgrims reported that Pakistani officials barred them from boarding the bus to Nankana Sahib, stating, “You are Hindus. You cannot go with the Sikh group,” and forced them to walk back toward the Indian border.

“Observers have raised concerns about the motives of Pakistan, questioning: If there was such an issue with Hindus, why were they granted visas initially? It seems the intent was to humiliate them—first by issuing visas and allowing entry into Pakistan, then by publicly insulting and expelling them,” the report highlighted.

Indian officials condemned the incident, labeling it a “shocking and unprecedented act of discrimination.”

“By isolating the Hindu pilgrims and sending them back in such an embarrassing manner, Pakistan has not only disrespected their faith but also disrespected the entire nation of India. This incident further illustrates that Pakistan is unwilling to abandon its divisive tactics and continues to seek opportunities to create discord among Indians,” the report concluded.