As part of the 485th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Pakistan has unveiled a life-size statue of Bhai Mardana, a close Muslim associate of Guru Nanak, at the historic Gurudwara Sri Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. The statue symbolizes centuries of Sikh-Muslim friendship and highlights the enduring bond between the two communities.
The unveiling ceremony was led by Chairman of the Mutukah Waqf Property Board Syed Attaur Rehman and Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Pradhan Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora. The statue has been installed in the “Bhai Ajitaji Bazar” within the Gurudwara, a space dedicated to Sikh-Muslim unity.
“By installing the statue of Bhai Mardana, Pakistan has demonstrated a fine example of interfaith harmony,” remarked Dr. Atta-ul-Rehman, praising the gesture as a powerful symbol of religious coexistence.
The unveiling coincided with the culmination of the three-day Joti Jot celebrations, which marked the conclusion of the Bhog Akhand Paath, attended by a large number of Pakistani and Indian Sikh pilgrims.
The event also saw the launch of a new agricultural initiative aimed at supporting the Gurudwara’s Langar (community kitchen). Syed Attaur Rehman inaugurated the cultivation of vegetables on three acres of land within Babaji’s farm, using the Seniorgenic method. The harvested produce will be used in the Langar, ensuring fresh and sustainable food for pilgrims visiting the site.
Indian pilgrims, who traveled through the Kartarpur Corridor—a visa-free route allowing Sikhs from India to visit the sacred site—were also given Prasad, including fruits grown in “Babaji’s Garden,” named in honor of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Speaking at the event, the ETPB Chairman hailed the Kartarpur Corridor as “the best gift to the Sikh nation across the world,” emphasizing its role in promoting cross-border religious harmony.
Key officials present included Board Secretary Farid Iqbal, Parliamentary Secretary Sonia Asher, and Additional Secretary Shrines Saifullah Khokhar, alongside members of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
The celebrations concluded with a sense of unity and reverence, further solidifying the Kartarpur Corridor’s place as a global symbol of peace and interfaith harmony.
