Sri Harkrishan Public School in Golden Avenue in Amritsar became one of the most visited spot for the mediapersons.

Not because country's best known politicians were staying there. But because 1100 Sikh and Sindhi pilgrims from Pakistan had been put up there by the authorities.

The Punjab government had provided them with a security cover to prevent any untoward incident taking place or someone trying to harass them.

"We are here to take part in the 400 years celebrations of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. I am glad that we decided to make it to Amritsar. It was a beautiful experience," said Jaswant Singh from Peshawar.

He had been thinking of visiting India for last one decade or so, but could not get the visa to travel to India.

When he heard that the Government of India would be granting 1100 special visas to those pilgrims wanting to take part in the Prakash Utsav celebrations, 45-year old Jaswant decided to try his luck.

"I talked to my wife and children and we decided that we should make use of the opportunity and visit India and see Harmandir Sahib. We have been hearing about the glory of this holy temple for years. When I and membersof my family saw it for the first time after our arrival last week we could not believe our eyes. It is a beautiful and wonderful experience to be here," he said.

Jaswant owns a grocery shop in Peshawar. He has two ambitions in life. One to give his shoulder to Palki Sahib, which carries the holy Guru Granth Sahib from Akal Takhat to Harmandir Sahib and other to make his daughter literate.

"For last couple of days I have been going there everyday. But so far I have not been lucky. I want to be part of the procession that carries Palki Sahib," said lean and lanky Jaswant in an emotional tone.

He wants to visit Anandpur Sahib but the schedule of the Jatha in which he has come is such that he does
not know whether he would be able to make it to Anandpur Sahib or not.

Thirty-year old Ruma Devi, who is a resident of Jacobabad in Sindh province of Pakistan, has come with her husband, son and daughter.

"I saw Golden Temple and I am impressed with the manner it is kept clean and there is an order about
everything here. I do not have a list for shopping. As and when I find time and if there is money to spare then I would buy a few things for myself and my husband and children. If there is more money left, maybe things for our relatives as well," she said, as she held her two-year old daughter in her arms.

Others were busy feeding children or eating at the langar. Nobody seemed to be complaining. In fact the entire Jatha is determined to make best use of the twenty one days of visa to visit Punjab and New Delhi.

They all praised the hospitality and the loved the attention being given to them by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee and the media.