All over the world Bandi Chorh Diwas, Diwali celebrated with full fervor
Bureau/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Diwali highlights some of the most important events in Sikh history. Bandi Chhor Divas marks the celebration of freedom and independence, with the release of Guru Hargobind from the Mughal prison Bandi Chorh Diwas is celebrated all over the world in a religious manner with full fervor, zeal. People greeted each other on this pious occasion. The traditional celebrations continue as the day is considered an important time to visit gurdwaras in their vicinity. Many devotees preferred to visit Darbar Sahib Amritsar on this occasion.
Bandi Chorh Diwas is a day on which Guru Hargobind Sahib was released with 52 Kings from Gwalior Prison. The word “Bandi” means “imprisoned”, “Chhor” means “release” and “Divas” means “day” and together “Bandi Chhor Divas” means Prisoner Release Day. It is celebrate with great joy as it was a time when “right” prevailed over “wrong”. The Mughals had held many hundreds of prisoners who were effectively “political prisoners” and were otherwise innocent leaders of their communities. They had been held without trial or any other legal process; jailed by brute force; held against their wishes.
The Guru had found a way to get 52 of these innocent leaders released from the prison without a battle. However, it had been a long process as the Guru spent many years in custody. However, in the end the unjust government of the day had to “give in” to the Guru’s just demands. An unlikely victory in a period of history when those in power were completely corrupt and injustice was the order of the day. However, the Guru had found a positive way out of an otherwise very dark situation. The lives of 52 local kings had been saved without a single shot and without a battle!
Interestingly, the release of the sixth Sikh guru in 1619 was agreed for those who could hold onto his cloak tail. For this, the Guru got a special cloak made with 52 pieces of string so that each prince was able to hold onto one string and leave the prison with him.
Another event celebrated on Diwali is the day of Bhai Mani Singh’s martyrdom in 1738, as a result of his failure to pay a fine for trying to celebrate Diwali and refusing to convert to Islam.
The traditional celebrations continue with the recitation of gurbani, akhand paath (reading of Guru Granth Sahib). Since the day is considered an important time to visit gurdwaras, millions of devotees visit the Golden Temple. The day coincides with Diwali, with grand fireworks at Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Also on this day, Guru Amar Das, the third guru of the Sikhs, built a well in Goindwal, also known as Goindwal Sahib, in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, with 84 steps, and invited Sikhs to bathe in its sacred waters on Diwali as a form of community bonding. Bandi Chhor Divas festival has become the most important part of Sikh festivities.
