Guru Arjan Dev Ji Shaheedi Jor Mela Today at Gurdwara Dera Sahib; Sikh Pilgrims Praise Pakistan’s Arrangements

Shaheedi Jor Mela of Guru Arjan Dev Ji to Be Commemorated at Gurdwara Dera Sahib Today; Sikh Pilgrims Praise Pakistan’s Arrangements
LAHORE, June 15: Ali imran Chattha 
The main ceremony of the annual Shaheedi Jor Mela commemorating the martyrdom of the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, will be held on Tuesday (June 16) at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore under the auspices of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
The commemorative gathering will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is expected to attract hundreds of Sikh pilgrims from India and devotees from across Pakistan who have assembled to pay homage to Guru Arjan Dev Ji, revered for compiling the Adi Granth, the first official scripture of Sikhism, and for his supreme sacrifice in 1606.
The ceremony will be attended by prominent government officials and Sikh community leaders, including Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) President and Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board Qamar-uz-Zaman, Additional Secretary (Shrines) ETPB Nasir Mushtaq, members of the PSGPC, and visiting Sikh pilgrims from India.
Religious congregations, Akhand Path Bhog ceremonies, kirtan darbars, ardas, and special prayers for global peace, interfaith harmony, and the well-being of humanity will form part of the day's observances.
Gurdwara Dera Sahib, situated adjacent to Lahore Fort and near the historic River Ravi, occupies a central place in Sikh history as it stands on the site where Guru Arjan Dev Ji attained martyrdom. Every year, the shrine hosts thousands of devotees from Pakistan and abroad during the Shaheedi Gurpurab celebrations.
The ongoing 10-day pilgrimage of Indian Sikh yatrees commenced on June 10 when more than a thousand pilgrims entered Pakistan through the Wagah Border under the Pakistan-India Religious Protocol. During their stay, the pilgrims have visited several of Sikhism’s most sacred sites, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji; Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad; Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal; Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal; and Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Eminabad.
After participating in the main martyrdom anniversary ceremonies at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, the pilgrims are scheduled to return to India through the Wagah Border on June 19.
Throughout the pilgrimage, visiting Sikh devotees have expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Government of Pakistan, ETPB, and PSGPC. Pilgrims praised the management of accommodation facilities, transportation services, langar arrangements, sanitation measures, and security provisions at all major shrines.
Given the prevailing heatwave conditions, authorities have also established special relief measures, including cold drinking water points, medical camps, ambulance services, emergency response teams, and round-the-clock healthcare facilities to ensure the comfort and safety of pilgrims.
Several pilgrims acknowledged the efforts of ETPB Chairman Qamar-uz-Zaman, Additional Secretary Nasir Mushtaq, and local administrations, noting that Sikh religious sites in Pakistan are being preserved and maintained with increasing care and professionalism. They remarked that the shrines are peaceful, well-managed, and welcoming for pilgrims from around the world.
The annual Shaheedi Jor Mela is regarded as one of the most significant events on the Sikh religious calendar and serves as a symbol of sacrifice, faith, and religious freedom. The observance also highlights Pakistan’s continued efforts to preserve minority religious heritage, facilitate interfaith harmony, and provide access to sacred Sikh sites for pilgrims from across the globe.
The Evacuee Trust Property Board has invited representatives of national and international media organizations to cover the main ceremony and witness the religious proceedings and arrangements made for the visiting Sikh community.