Bandi Chhor Divas is a day celebrated by the Sikh people, which coincide with the day of Diwali. This year Bandi Chhor Diwas is observed on 19 October. It is a significant and historic event related to the Sikh Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. On this day Guru Hargobind was released from the prison of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. It is an important Sikh tradition as like Vaisakhi, Maghi, Hola Mohalla and Gurpurb. The Bandi Chhor Divas is celebrated similar to Diwali, with light, gifts, and sweets. Sikh People decorate homes and Gurdwaras with lights and give gifts to their loved ones. On the day of Bandi Chhor Diwas, Sikh people do Nagar kirtan and Akhand path (continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib). Sikh people consider this occasion as an important time to visit Gurdwaras and celebrate with their families. They also organize continuous kirtan singing and special musicians in Gurudwara.
Diwali is generally considered as the festival of Hindus. They consider it a festival of light and lamp. But this is correspondingly important for the Sikhs. On the day of Diwali, the Temple of the Sikhs located in Amritsar is decorated with lights and lights. In fact, the festival celebrated on the day of Diwali, is called the day of captivity(Rihaai), which means prisoner release day.
Bandi Chhor Diwas Story
It is related to Guru Hargobind Saheb, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs. It is believed that when he was released from Gwalior jail in 1619, the Sikhs consider the victory of good on evil. According to a story, Guru Hargobind Saheb saved the lives of 52 people without doing any violence. Celebrate this occasion with Sikh community. It is said that Guru Hargobind Saheb was arrested with hundreds of others by the Mughals.
During the period of the jail, the Mughal ruler Jahangir met to the Guru Sahib and became very close to him. It is said that once the master had saved Jahangir from becoming a lion’s cocoon, he had always respected Guru Hargobind. Therefore, Jahangir had the intention to release them. Without the release of 52 other prisoners, Guru Hargobind Sahib put a condition that he would not accept the release of himself, once the all 52 prisoners were released.
Leave a Comment