The government of Punjab has declared that the Baisakhi celebration will be observed officially.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif in her message on the Baisakhi festival said that Baisakhi is the hallmark of Punjab's unique culture.
Chief Minister Punjab further said that Baisakhi is a festival full of happiness, I congratulate all the brothers and sisters. She welcomed Sikh sisters and brothers who are coming to celebrate Baisakhi in Punjab, she said that I am Pakistani first then Punjabi, Punjab resides in the heart, and every person of my Punjab is an equal sharer in the happiness of Baisakhi.
Nearly 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from India have crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan to participate in the annual three-day Baisakhi Mela festivities.
Welcomed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the pilgrims are set to join the main event at Hasan Abdal tomorrow.
During their visit, the pilgrims will also pay homage to Sikh religious sites such as Nankana Sahib and Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. On April 21, they will converge at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore before returning to India via Wagah on April 22.
Punjabi New Year is celebrated on Baisakhi. As they gather the first crop of the Rabi season, the farmers offer their prayers for an abundant harvest and prosperity. In addition, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, founded the Khalsa Panth on this day, giving it prominence in Sikh tradition.
