Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Kartarpur corridor will help Sikh devotees make visa-free pilgrimage to Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Addressing a special gathering on the occasion of 352nd birth anniversary of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, the PM said, “Through Kartarpur corridor, Sikh devotees will be able to make visa-free pilgrimage to Darbar Sahib in Narowal, Pakistan, on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.”

He said that devotees will now be able to see Kartarpur Gurudwara in person instead of using binoculars.

“August 1947 mein jo chuk ho gayi thi, ye uska prayashchit hai (This [the corridor] is the atonement for the oversight that happened in August 1947),” the PM said referring to the partition that separated the Kartarpur Gurudwara located less than 4 kilometres inside Pakistan from the International Border.

The PM announced that Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary will be celebrated in all states, UTs and Indian embassies around the world.

On the occasion, the PM released Rs 350 commemorative coin to mark the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru who fought against the Mughals and established the Khalsa panth.

In his tribute, the PM said that not only was Guru Gobind Singh a Guru but also a devotee.

“He was not only a Guru, but also a great devotee. He was equally a good poet as he was a great warrior. The people of the country and the world are aware of his supreme sacrifice. He gave his own four sons to protect the lives of thousands of sons, for the Dharma, for nation,” he said.

Earlier today, the PM paid homage to Guru Gobind Singh in a tweet.

“I bow to Sri Guru Gobind Singhji on his jayanti,” he wrote followed by a message in Punjabi.

I bow to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on his Jayanti.

ਮੈਂ ਸਾਹਿਬ-ਏ-ਕਮਾਲ ਸਰਬੰਸ ਦਾਨੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਹਾਰਾਜ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਪੁਰਬ ਦੀ ਸਮੂਹ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਈ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਅੱਗੇ ਸੀਸ ਝੁਕਾਉਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ। pic.twitter.com/Pt4k2BgLDS

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 13, 2019

President Ram Nath Kovind, too, paid homage to the Sikh Guru in a tweet.

“Homage to Guru Gobind Singh on his birth anniversary. He devoted his life to serving the people and upholding truth, justice and compassion. The example and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh continue to inspire us,” Kovind tweeted.

Homage to Guru Gobind Singh on his birth anniversary. He devoted his life to serving the people and upholding truth, justice and compassion. The example and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh continue to inspire us #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 13, 2019

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) is revered by the Sikh community as he founded the ‘Khalsa Panth’, the warrior Sikh community, at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.

His father, 9th Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam. Guru Gobind Singh enshrined the scripture the Guru Granth Sahib as Sikhism’s eternal Guru and founded the sacred Five Ks – the five articles of faith that Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times.