HASAN ABDAL: Thousands of Sikh pilgrims gathered at the historic Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Punjab to mark Vaisakhi, the spring harvest festival and one of the most significant religious occasions for the Sikh community.
The celebrations were attended by United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan Mohamed Yahya and Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tarik Ali Khan, alongside devotees who travelled from across borders to participate in the annual gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohamed Yahya said thousands of people are drawn each year by faith to the sacred site, describing Vaisakhi as both a harvest celebration and a spiritually significant day marking the birth of the Khalsa for Sikhs.
He called the event a “homecoming to faith, history, and to each other,” highlighting Pakistan’s cultural and religious diversity and traditions of hospitality and respect.
The Canadian High Commissioner noted that Canada is home to the second-largest Sikh community in the world, and said it was an honour to join the celebrations in Pakistan, emphasizing the festival’s message of peace, service, and humanity.
Vaisakhi at Gurdwara Panja Sahib remains one of the most prominent religious gatherings in Pakistan, reflecting the country’s continued role in facilitating access to sacred sites for minority faith communities and promoting interfaith harmony.
