ATTOCK: The Sikh community on account of the Baisakhi festival has decided to cancel the ceremonies related to it in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The decision was made by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Gurdwara Panja Sahib will remain closed as a safety measure taken against the virus outbreak.
Several pilgrims visit Pakistan every year from across the globe to join the celebrations but this year no person will be allowed to enter the shrine during Baisakhi.
The leader of the Sikh community had announced to celebrate the event with simplicity. The festival also known as Vaisakhi is celebrated at the shrines of Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib.
It is the birthplace of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. His birthday is celebrated between 12th to 15th April every year in Punjab. The event also marks the start of the new Punjabi Year and the beginning of the harvesting season.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 4,414 after new cases were reported in the country. The number of 248 cases were recorded during the last 24 hours. As many as 572 patients have recovered from the disease while 31 are in critical condition at different hospitals.
Read more: 25 killed as gunmen storm Sikh temple in Kabul
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