The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has taken an important decision regarding the Sikh pilgrimage group travelling to gurdwaras in Pakistan on the occasion of Baisakhi. The committee has decided not to allow solo female devotees to join the upcoming jatha, sparking fresh discussions around the annual religious visit.
Confirming the decision, SGPC Chief Secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan said that the process of accepting passport applications from single women pilgrims has been temporarily halted. He explained that the step was taken in view of a previous incident that raised administrative concerns.
According to SGPC officials, the decision follows an episode from November last year during the pilgrimage organized on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Purab. A woman pilgrim, identified as Sarabjit Kaur, who had travelled to Pakistan as part of the Sikh delegation, did not return to India after the visit.
Subsequent reports claimed that she had converted to Islam and married a Pakistani resident, Nasir Hussain. The incident reportedly prompted the SGPC to review its pilgrimage policies to avoid similar situations in the future.
The new restriction has generated debate among members of the Sikh community, with discussions focusing on safety, administrative responsibility, and participation rules for religious pilgrimages.
The Baisakhi pilgrimage to Pakistan holds significant religious importance, as Sikh devotees visit several historic gurdwaras associated with Sikh Gurus. SGPC officials stated that further guidelines regarding the pilgrimage may be issued in the coming days.
