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In a rare and landmark initiative, the Kartarpur corridor facilitating Sikh pilgrims to visit one of Sikhism's holiest shrines in the Pakistani town of Narowal was thrown open by Pak PM Imran Khan amid fanfare and presence of several thousands Sikhs. The corridor links Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur in India to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. It was inaugurated as part of the celebration to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. A high-level Indian delegation comprising former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu and Union Ministers Harshimrat Singh Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri was present here on the occasion.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first batch of over 500 pilgrims in Gurdaspur, saying it will be easy to pay obeisance at the Darbar Sahib gurdwara after the opening of the Kartarpur corridor. (PTI Photo)
PM Narendra Modi thanked his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan for understanding India's sentiment on the issue of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. (AP Photo) -
On the inaugural day, 562 pilgrims crossed over to Pakistan to offer prayers at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur after the much-awaited corridor was opened. (PTI Photo)
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The state-of-the-art passenger terminal building, with a design inspired by 'Khanda'- a symbol of faith in Sikh community, has been constructed on 15 acres of land. (PTI Photo)
Before flagging off the first “jatha”, Modi chatted briefly with Manmohan Singh, who was accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur. (PTI Photo) -
Donning a saffron coloured turban (head gear), PM Narendra Modi eats 'langar' after inaugurating the passenger terminal building of the Kartarpur corridor on the Indian side, also known as Integrated Check Post, in Gurdaspur. (PTI Photo)
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A total of 562 pilgrims were part of the first 'jatha' who visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib on the first day of the pilgrimage. (PTI Photo)
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The Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib is located across the Ravi river in Pakistan and is about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. (Reuters Photo)
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It will be easy to pay obeisance at the Darbar Sahib gurdwara after the opening of the Kartarpur corridor. (Reuters Photo)
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The gurdwara is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. (Reuters Photo)
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The opening of the Kartarpur corridor is an ointment on the wounds the people who witnessed bloodbath during the partition, former Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said as he thanked the prime ministers of India and Pakistan for the historic move. (Reuters Photo)
