Around 3,000 Sikh pilgrims, mostly from India, are expected to arrive in Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal to attend the 312th Besakhi festival.Talking to newsmen in Hassanabdal on Thursday, deputy secretary (shrines) Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Syed Faraz Abbas said Indian Sikh pilgrims would arrive in Hassanabdal on April 11 through special trains via Wagah to offer religious rituals, including Ashnan, Akhand Paath Sahib, Ardas and Hukam Nama. He said: “We have finalised security and other arrangements, including food and accommodation, at Gurdwara Punja Sahib for the pilgrims.”

After offering religious rituals, the Sikh pilgrims will leave for Nankana Sahib on April 14. He said a large number of Sikh pilgrims from various parts of the world, especially UK, France, US, Canada and UAE, were also expected to attend the festival.

He said Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from Fata, Peshawar, Swat, Tando Adam, Larkana, Sukkur, Badin, Umar Kot, Karachi and Lahore would also join the celebrations.

It may be recalled that the festival is observed every year on the first day of Besakh, the fifth month of the Bikrami calendar, falling on April 12.

News Source: http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/08/3000-sikh-pilgrims-due-in-hassanabdal.html