Veer Bal Diwas

Veer Bal Diwas

News: Veer Bal Diwas is observed on December 26 to honor the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s youngest sons Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji.

About:
• Guru Gobind Singh ji had four sons – Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. All four of his sons were initiated into the Khalsa and all were executed by Mughal forces before the age of 19.
• Sikhism honors the illustrious martyred sons of Guru Gobind Singh ji in the prayer of ardas for their valor and sacrifice as ‘Char Sahibzade’, that is the four princes of the Khalsa warrior order.
• The day marks when Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh attained martyrdom when they were executed by the Mughals (1705).
• The brothers were captured with their grandmother Mata Gujari, the mother of Guru Gobind Singh.
• They were imprisoned with their grandmother and put to death by cruel Mughals on the orders of Aurangzeb, who attempted to suffocate them inside a brick enclosure.
• At the time of martyrdom, the ages of Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were 9 years and 6 years respectively. This sacrifice is seen as the bravest sacrifice for Dharma by any young boys in Indian history.

Who was Guru Gobind Singh?
• He was the 10th Sikh guru. He was born at Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666. His birthday sometimes falls either in December or January or even both months in the Gregorian calendar. The annual celebration of the Guru’s birthday is based on the Nanakshahi calendar.
• He became the Sikh guru at the age of nine, following the demise of father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru. He is known for his significant contributions to the Sikh religion, including the introduction of the turban to cover hair. He also founded the principles of Khalsa or the Five ‘K’s.
• He is also responsible for establishing the highest order in the Sikh community. He fought against the Mughals later in the battle of Muktsar in 1705. Guru Gobind Singh was killed by a Mughal assassin in 1708, a year after the death of Aurangzeb.
• He named Guru Granth Sahib, the religious text of the Khalsas and the Sikhs, as the next Guru of the two communities.