Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom is commemorated in Lahore every year on 16 June at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, the gurdwara beside Lahore Fort that marks the place where the fifth Sikh Guru died in 1606. It is a religious observance for Sikhs: Pakistan's own Sikh community, pilgrims from abroad and, in most years, several hundred pilgrims from India who cross at Wagah. In 2026 the 420th anniversary was observed on Tuesday 16 June, and 2027 should fall on the same date.
For anyone who is not a pilgrim, this is an event to understand rather than attend. This guide covers why Lahore matters, what happens, who travels and what other visitors can see.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| What | Shaheedi purab (martyrdom anniversary) of Guru Arjan Dev |
| Where | Gurdwara Dera Sahib, between Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque |
| Date | 16 June each year in Pakistan |
| 2026 | Main ceremony on 16 June; Indian pilgrims in Pakistan 10 to 19 June |
| Organisers | Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) |
| Open to | Sikh visitors; others need ETPB permission |
| Weather | Mid-June is one of Lahore's hottest times of year |
Why the martyrdom is marked in Lahore
Guru Arjan was the fifth Sikh Guru, from 1581 until his death. He compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, including hymns by Hindu and Muslim saints alongside the Gurus'.
In 1606 he was arrested on the orders of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, who accused him of supporting the rebel prince Khusrau, and he died in Lahore on 30 May 1606 (Wikipedia). Historians disagree on whether his death came from execution, torture or drowning. Sikh tradition holds that after days of torture the Guru asked to bathe in the Ravi, which then ran past the Fort, and did not come out of the river. His son, Guru Hargobind, built a memorial on the spot in 1619. The present building, with its gilded dome, dates from the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Why 16 June, and why India sometimes marks a different day
The date in Pakistan follows the original Nanakshahi calendar adopted in 2003, which fixes the martyrdom to 16 June every year. The PSGPC uses this version. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar follows the calendar as amended in 2010, under which the date moves. In 2024, for example, the SGPC observed it on 10 June while Lahore marked it on 16 June (The Tribune, India), and SGPC calendars list 18 June for 2026.
So the Lahore date does not depend on moon sighting and should be 16 June in 2027 as well. The pilgrimage window around it does change: the two governments agree the visa dates each year, and the ETPB announces the programme a few weeks ahead.
What happens during the week
The observance at Dera Sahib follows the pattern of any major Sikh gurpurab. Reports from recent years describe an Akhand Path, the unbroken reading of the Guru Granth Sahib over about two days, ending on the anniversary. The main day brings kirtan by ragi groups, the Ardas (congregational prayer), speeches and langar, the free communal meal served to everyone present.
In 2026 the main ceremony began at 9 am on 16 June (The Nation). The ETPB chairman was chief guest, alongside PSGPC president Ramesh Singh Arora, the visiting pilgrims and local Sikh families.
The ETPB describes its arrangements as accommodation, langar, transport, sanitation, medical teams and Rescue 1122 cover for the visiting group, with heavy police security around the compound.
Who travels from India
Pilgrimages between the two countries run under the 1974 bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, which allows up to 1,000 Indian pilgrims for this occasion. In 2026 the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issued 737 visas, and the pilgrims were in Pakistan from 10 to 19 June (Arab News, The Tribune). Their programme also took in Nankana Sahib, Sacha Sauda, Panja Sahib, Kartarpur and Rohri Sahib at Eminabad.
It does not happen every year. In June 2025, after the conflict between the two countries in May, India did not allow its pilgrims to travel, and the ceremony in Lahore went ahead with Sikhs from Pakistan and other countries (Express Tribune, APP).
To follow the route they take, see our guides to Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib and the Kartarpur Gurdwara.
Can other visitors attend?
Not as a matter of course. Access to Gurdwara Dera Sahib is for Sikh visitors, and everyone else needs special permission from the ETPB. During the anniversary week security is tighter still, so turning up at the gate is not a plan.
What a visitor can do:
- See the setting. The compound stands between Hazuri Bagh and Badshahi Mosque, both open to the public, so you can see where it sits even if you cannot go in.
- Visit the neighbours. Lahore Fort has its own entry and opening hours, and the Fort's Hathi Pol faces the gurdwara.
- Apply to the ETPB well ahead if you have a genuine reason, such as research.
Our guide to Sikh heritage sites in Lahore sets out what is and is not open across the Walled City.
Etiquette inside a gurdwara
If you do have permission, the usual customs apply. Cover your head, take off your shoes, wash your hands and feet where water is provided, and dress modestly. Bring no tobacco or alcohol. Accept karah parshad in cupped hands, never point your feet towards the Guru Granth Sahib, and ask before photographing anyone.
Is it worth planning a trip around?
For Sikh pilgrims, yes: it is one of the fixed dates in the Pakistan pilgrimage calendar, and Lahore is where it happened. For other travellers, no. The anniversary gives no extra access, the area is crowded and closely guarded, and mid-June Lahore is very hot.
If you are curious about Sikh history in Punjab, you will see more on a quiet day in the Walled City, or by timing a visit to the bigger gatherings at Vaisakhi or Guru Nanak's birthday at Nankana Sahib. About two weeks later, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh barsi brings pilgrims back to the same compound. Our experiences page has more cultural ideas.
Frequently asked questions
When is Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom day in Pakistan?
On 16 June every year, following the original Nanakshahi calendar used by the PSGPC. The main ceremony in 2026 was on 16 June, and 2027 should be the same.
Where did Guru Arjan Dev die?
In Lahore in 1606, near the Ravi beside Lahore Fort. Gurdwara Dera Sahib stands on the site.
Can non-Sikhs visit Gurdwara Dera Sahib?
Only with special permission from the Evacuee Trust Property Board. Others can visit Badshahi Mosque and Hazuri Bagh next door.
How many Indian pilgrims attend?
Up to 1,000 can come under the 1974 protocol. Pakistan issued 737 visas in 2026, while in 2025 India did not let its pilgrims travel.
,_circa_1909.jpg){kind=link}