Sikh devotees around the world are expressing deep disappointment after the Indian government blocked pilgrimages to Pakistan this year, citing security concerns. The decision has not only restricted Indian citizens but also complicated travel plans for members of the Sikh diaspora, including many Canadians who traditionally join India-based groups to visit shrines across the border.
Gian Singh Gill, who regularly leads groups from British Columbia to Pakistan, said the impact has been immediate. “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,” he told OMNI News.
The ban has disrupted the spirit of community that normally defines these pilgrimages. “Such pilgrimages are a time when Sikhs from across the world gather and meet,” Gill said. “But this year, devotees from India and abroad won’t be able to connect in Pakistan.”
Bhai Gurcharan Singh, another Canadian pilgrim, echoed the sentiment, calling the government’s decision especially painful for ordinary devotees. “Many people will miss out on this spiritual journey,” he said.
Even families who successfully secured Pakistani visas have been stopped from going. Giani Harmitter Singh, a regular pilgrim, questioned the logic behind the ban. “If cricket matches between India and Pakistan can happen, why not religious pilgrimages?” he asked.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Punjab government, and several Sikh organizations have strongly opposed the move. Letters have been sent to India’s Home Ministry urging a reversal, but so far the policy remains unchanged.
Sikh pilgrims travel to Pakistan every year to mark significant occasions such as Vaisakhi, the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Many of the most sacred Sikh shrines remain in Pakistan following the partition of 1947, making these cross-border journeys central to religious life.
For now, however, those sacred journeys have been halted—leaving thousands of devotees in India and abroad feeling cut off from a spiritual tradition that has united generations of Sikhs.