Nankana Sahib in Pakistan illuminated ahead of Guru Nanak Dev's 550th birth anniversary

Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province is decked up with lights to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

The Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib was built at the place where the Sikh guru was born. The 550th birth anniversary of the Sikh Guru will be commemorated at the Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, his birthplace, on November 12.

This comes as over one thousand Sikh pilgrims from India are visiting various sacred shrines in Pakistan's Hassanabdal city as part of the 'Nagar Kirtan', a religious procession, held to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

The Sikh pilgrims visited Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Soda Farooqabad and other shrines. The pilgrimage concluded at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, where a gold palanquin 'Palki Sahib' was installed.

During their stay, they will also visit other Gurdwaras in the Punjab province and attend the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9

India and Pakistan on October 24 signed an agreement on the modalities for operationalising Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, paving the way for its inauguration ahead of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

The Corridor connects Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.

The three-km corridor will allow Sikh pilgrims direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak Dev passed away in 1539.

The corridor will facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib.

The foundation stone for the Kartarpur Corridor was laid down on the Indian side on November 26, 2018. Two days later the foundation stone was laid on the Pakistani side.