Chandigarh: As the country celebrates Diwali, for the Sikhs, the day holds significance for another reason.
It marks the release of the sixth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind Singh, from incarceration by the Mughals in the 17th century — and is celebrated as “Bandi Chhor” Diwas across Punjab.
Bandi Chhor literally translates as “released from prison”. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri Sunday took to Twitter to wish people on “one of the most important events in Sikh history”.
Greetings on Bandi Chhor Divas, one of the most important events in Sikh History when our sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Singh Ji facilitated the release of 52 hindu princes from Mughal prison in Gwalior. pic.twitter.com/obuBemnwCi
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 27, 2019
A guru at a young age
Guru Hargobind’s father, Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth guru of Sikhs, was executed in 1606 on orders of then-Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Punjab historians note that the Mughal ruler felt threatened by the rising popularity of the Sikh religion. Guru Arjan was imprisoned and allegedly tortured to death.
Guru Hargobind was just 11 when his father was executed and he was declared the next guru. He started the tradition of wearing two swords — miri and piri — one to defend himself and other as a mark of temporal authority.
In 1612, he too was arrested and lodged at the Gwalior jail. He was finally released on Diwali. Historians, however, have debated the exact year of his release, between 1614 and 1615.
Some historians believe that even after he was released, he was kept under the Mughal surveillance.
Apart from Diwali, this day is celebrated as the day when the sixth Sikh Guru returned to lead his faith.
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The release of 52 kings and princes
While leaving Gwalior jail, Guru Hargobind secured the release of 52 kings and princes. The story goes that these kings and princes were dismayed when they got to know that their spiritual guru was leaving.
Guru Hargobind demanded that they too be released with him. It is said that Jahangir agreed to the demand but on the condition that only as many kings could walk out of the jail as could hold onto the Guru’s cloak. It is believed that Guru Hargobind got a large cloak made to ensure that everyone could be released.
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The Guru was called Guru Hargobind ji. Singh was used much later by Guru Gobind Singh ji.
Got to know of the ‘Bandi Chhor’ Diwas only recently