Note: The following post will be a bit of special feature since it will not be Gurbani focused but instead focus on Sikh History and its connection to Hindu History/Mythology. I plan to do a future post on references to the stories and characters of Ramayana in Gurbani.

Bandi Chor Divas

The Sikh Celebration of Bandi Chor Divas coincides with the Hindu celebration of Diwali. Although there may be a difference in the reasons for celebration the way the two holidays are celebrated is virtually indistinguishable. In Punjab, it is almost impossible to find where the Hindu Diwali begins and Sikh Bandi Chor Divas ends.

Gwalior Fort

Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib leaves Gwalior Fort

Bandi Chor Divas, roughly translates to the Day of Freedom. Around 1619, Guru Hargobind Sahib was imprisoned by the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir. By this time Guru Sahib had built the Akal Takht and was well on his way to arming the Sikhs. As such the threat of Guru Sahib was two-fold. First, the growing military power of the Guru was a concern for the Emperor’s hold over Punjab. Second, the Guru had continued to attract religious followers which was a threat to the spread of Islam in Northern India. To nullify these threats and appease some of his advisers the Emperor Jahangir fined Guru Sahib an extreme amount for some minor offence. When Guru Hargobind Ji refused to pay this fine he was imprisoned. Knowing his own innocence on the matter, Guru Ji went willingly to prison and advised his Sikhs to remain peaceful.Guru Ji was sent to Gwalior Fort and was held there for a few months. Gwalior Fort (Gwalior Qila) was one of largest in India and was considered almost impregnable. Because of this the Mughal’s held their most powerful prisoners there. The majority of these prisoners were kings, princes and leaders who were either rebellious or uncooperative. Although accounts of Guru Ji’s release vary, one tradition holds that Jahangir eventually became ill. Since medicines were not working he asked his religious advisers if the illness was Allah’s punishment for some wrongdoing. One of his advisers was the Sufi Saint Mian Mir who was a friend of both Guru Hargobind Sahib and of their father, Guru Arjun Dev Ji. Baba Mian Mir advised the Emperor to free Guru Hargobind Sahib since imprisoning a saint of Allah was a grave sin. The Emperor then sent for Guru Ji to be released. However, Guru Ji refused, saying that he would not leave unless other innocent prisoners were also let go. The Emperor replied that those kings and princes who could hold on to the Guru’s clothing would be granted freedom alongside the Guru. Guru Ji then either cut-up his overcoat or had a special garment delivered such that it would have 52 strips which accounted for virtually all of the prisoners in Gwalior Qila. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji then left Gwalior along with 52 other kings and princes.Guru Ji’s release coincided with Diwali and when Guru Ji entered Amritsar the Sikhs lit up the city, Akal Takht and Harmandir Sahib with thousands upon thousands of deevas (small lamps) and then celebrated Diwali with full festivities. For the Sikhs, the return of their Guru was as great of a celebration as the return of Sri Raam Chandar was for the Hindus.