Pakistan Grants 438 Visas to Indian Pilgrims for Maharaja Ranjit Singh Death Anniversary Events

Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi has issued 438 visas to Indian pilgrims for a series of commemorative events in Pakistan marking the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire.

The events are scheduled to take place from June 21 to 30, 2026, primarily at the Maharaja’s samadhi in Lahore. Ranjit Singh, popularly known as the “Lion of Punjab,” ruled a vast empire from Lahore between 1799 and his death on June 27, 1839.

The visa approvals come under the longstanding 1974 India-Pakistan Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which facilitates Sikh pilgrimages to important historical gurdwaras and shrines located in Pakistan, including Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.

This annual yatra holds special significance for the Sikh community, as it allows devotees to pay respects at sites directly linked to the Maharaja’s legacy. Officials on both sides have described the move as a routine religious facilitation, aimed at promoting people-to-people ties despite broader diplomatic tensions.