The 535th birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh religion -- Guru Nanak -- was celebrated Friday with traditional religious fervour across Punjab and other parts of India as well as neighbouring Pakistan.

Reports reaching here from Pakistan said Gurupurab (the birth anniversary) was celebrated by the Sikh community at several places in the neighbouring country.

Special celebrations were held at Nankana Sahib Gurdwara near Lahore, the birthplace of the guru.

In this Sikh holy city, celebrations began Thursday with the Golden Temple -- the holiest of Sikh shrines -- being beautifully decorated with lights.

The Sikh holy book -- Guru Granth Sahib -- was taken out in a procession in the Golden Temple complex Thursday and Friday as millions of the devout paid obeisance.

In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his government would try to resolve the problem faced by Sikhs banned from wearing turbans in state-run schools in France and explore ways of easing the community's access to Guru Nanak's birthplace in Pakistan.

As he paid homage at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Manmohan Singh also gave a call for peace and unity.

Responding to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee's (DSGMC) plea protesting a French ban on religious symbols, the prime minister said he was in touch with the French government. He hoped the issue would be resolved soon.

Manmohan Singh, the country's first Sikh prime minister, spent 45 minutes at the gurdwara with his wife Gursharan Kaur. He was presented a siropa or ceremonial sword, a shawl, a plaque and a book on Sikhism.

Gurdwaras across Punjab and in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh were decorated. Sikh devotees could be seen paying obeisance at the shrines since early Friday morning.

Chandigarh resident Balwant Singh walked barefoot for 15 km from his house in the city to Nada Sahib gurdwara in Haryana.

"I had pledged to do it this gurpurab and am happy that I could do it," he said.

Several houses in cities and villages across Punjab were lit up by people, creating a Diwali-type atmosphere.

By evening, crackers were being burst to celebrate the occasion.

Satish Kaur of Chandigarh's Sector 18 said Gurupurab was the most important of all Sikh festivals and was being celebrated in a befitting manner.

Harminder Singh of Amritsar's Ranjit Avenue said he and his family -- including his son and daughter -- went to the Golden Temple to pay obeisance despite the rush of pilgrims.

--Indo-Asian News Service