File photo of the Golden Temple (Agence France-Presse)
Visiting Sikh pilgrims from India and other parts of the world celebrated Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev, at his birthplace Nankana Sahib, about 90 km from Lahore, in Pakistan.
The devotees offered prayers, performed voluntary service at the gurdwara and partook of langar at the shrine, according to the information reaching Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) here.
The birth anniversary was celebrated under tight security provided around the shrine by the Pakistan Rangers and Pakistan's Elite Force commandos.
The shrine, which is under the Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan, was decorated for the occasion.
Over 1,500 Sikh pilgrims left for Pakistan Tuesday to go to Nankana Sahib. Over 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from around the world have arrived in Nankana Sahib on the occasion.
Before the departure of the pilgrims Tuesday, 60 people were killed Sunday at Wagah in Pakistan near the international border in a suicide bomb attack.
Born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib, about 90 km from Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province, Guru Nanak Dev founded Sikhism later.