Kartarpur Sahib To Open For Sikh Pilgrims From Next Month, Know COVID-19 Guidelines To Be Followed

The usage of the Kartarpur Corridor was suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19.

Sikh pilgrims arrive to take part in a religious ritual on the occasion of the 481th death anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur near the India-Pakistan border on September 22, 2020. | AFP

New Delhi: Pakistan has decided to allow Sikh devotees to visit Kartarpur Sahib from next month onwards. September 22 marks the 482nd death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. On the occasion of the death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, a three-day ceremony will be held at Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib from September 20.

The decision to open the Kartarpur Gurdwara has been taken by the Pakistan-based National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). However, these pilgrims will have to strictly follow the COVID-19 related protocols.

Guidelines For Kartarpur Sikh Pilgrims:

Special guidelines have been issued by Pakistan to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which needs to be mandatorily followed. Sikh devotees who have been fully vaccinated would be the only pilgrims allowed to enter the nation. It is mandatory for devotees to carry vaccine certificates during their visit to Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara.

Moreover, passengers will also have to show a negative RT-PCR report for a test that has taken place within the last 72 hours. In addition, rapid antigen testing would also be conducted at the airport. If the report comes out to be positive, the passenger will not be allowed entry into Pakistan.

A maximum entry cap of 300 people has been enforced by authorities at Kartarpur Darbar Sahib Gurudwara. Passengers may have to wait for long to enter and worship at the Gurudwara. This is due to the 300 people gap enforced by the authorities within the premises.

Kartarpur Corridor was opened in November 2019 on the auspicious occasion of the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev. However, the usage of the Kartarpur Corridor was suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19.