On 15th November this month, Sikh community around Pakistan and the world will celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder and first Guru of Sikhism which is also one of the most important Sikh holy days. 80% of sikh holy sites are in Pakistan.
The lives of people belonging to sikhism revolve around three daily principles, living honestly, service towards humanity, and devotion to God.The belief is to serve God by indulging in (seva) of people which in turn helps riding their own ego and pride.Sikhs also regard caring for the poor or sick as an important duty of service.
Out of total population of approximately 224 million people of Pakistan. 96 % are Muslims. The remaining 7.5 million people are mainly Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs. Due to these diverse beliefs, reconciliation and peace are very important issues for Pakistan.
Nankana Sahib District in the Punjab province is another holy site for sikhs, It is named after Guru Nanak, who was born in the city and first began preaching here. His final resting place is at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, at Kartarpur yet again in Punjab a significant pilgrimage site for Sikhs.Another holy place for sikhs is Gurdwara Panja Sahib in the town of Hasan Abdal in Pakistan.
The word “Panja” in Punjabi means an “outstretched palm” which means “five”. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage places for Sikhs who visit Pakistan. Usually large groups visit at the time of Vaisakhi. It is a beautiful Gurdwara set in the middle of a tank of water from the natural spring.
Currently, religious minorities are politically disadvantaged, economically poor & socially segregated in most part, resulting in limited opportunities of jobs, labour & wages. Main issues contributing to promoting interfaith harmony are , There is no widespread interfaith dialogue, misinterpretation of religious beliefs , Lack of political will, very low level of social and cultural assimilation, poor religious knowledge, political instability ,economic crisis which is prevalent .
Repeated interventions of promoting tolerance and acceptance of the different religions creates the basis for people to live together peacefully. Keeping in mind how to foster and encourage tolerance in Pakistan, Lakeshore City Islamabad initiative of interfaith harmony seminar is a good omen.
They pledged profound commitment to unity and brotherhood to bring peace . They also spoke about preventing violence, conflict, and discrimination, Involving women and young people in the leadership to implement tolerance, acceptance, and peaceful coexistence is truly commendable. Pakistan is a peace loving country. we should support and respect all initiatives that work for humanity.
