Happy Diwali everyone! Or, for us Sikhs - happy BANDHI CHOHR DIVAS!

If you don't know what Bandhi Chohr is all about, here is one of the stories from the book Sakhian. This one is by Amrita Dhanoa, who is aged 14.


A long time ago, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind Ji, started the celebration of Bandhi Chhor Divas. It all started while he was spreading the teachings of Sikhism. Sikhism was gaining popularity, and Guru Ji’s power was growing amongst the people. In fact, Guru Hargobind Ji was becoming so well known that some people were starting to get jealous. Emperor Jahangir was certainly one of them.
The emperor was a Muslim, and feared that if Sikhism became more popular, it might overpower his own religion. The emperor was also worried that Guru Hargobind Ji himself would conquer him. The same thoughts had worried Emperor Jahangir when Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Guru Hargobind Ji’s father, had been the reigning Guru. At that time, the emperor had had Guru Arjan Dev Ji martyred, thinking that it would stop the spread of Sikhism.
This time, the emperor decided, he would finish the Guru Ji by imprisoning him in the famous fort of Gwalior. Emperor Jahangir succeeded in doing so, and all of the Guru Ji’s beloved Sikhs were very sad. However, Guru Hargobind Ji was not the only person in the jail. Other Hindu rajahs were also kept there as a punishment for annoying or bothering the mighty Jahangir. At first, Jahangir thought that his problem was solved once and for all. However, Emperor Jahangir forgot that Guru Hargobind Ji had earned many people’s respect and friendship.
Guru Ji’s good friend, Hajrat Mian Mir, gave Emperor Jahangir a rude awakening. Hajrat Mian Mir was a very influential and powerful leader. Although he was a Muslim, he thought very highly of GuruHargobind Ji. When Hajrat Mian Mir heard of Guru Ji in jail he wasvery angry! Hajrat Mian Mir told Emperor Jahangir to let the Guru Jifree. Emperor Jahangir had to listen, for it would not be good if such a strong man like Hajrat Mian Mir was upset with him. And so, Emperor Jahangir sent the orders to free Guru Hargobind Ji from the fort of Gwalior.
When Guru Ji heard that he was to be freed he refused to leave. He said that he would only leave the jail if all of the other rajahs could go with him. Emperor Jahangir was frustrated, but remembering Hajrat Mian Mir, he knew he would have to let the Guru have what he wanted - to some extent.
“Let those rajahs be freed who can hold on to the Guru’s coattails and walk out of prison,” he replied.
This was a big mistake; the emperor had thought that perhaps four or five of the rajahs would be able to hold onto the coattails of Guru Hargobind Ji. Little did he know, Guru Ji was having a special coat made with 52 coattails - the same number of rajas there were in the prison! All of the rajas held a coattail and escaped the prison safely. After this, Guru Hargobind Ji became popularly known as ‘Bandhi Chhor’, or ‘Deliverer From Prison’. The day Guru Ji arrived at Har Mandir Sahib, or the Golden Temple, the whole city of Amritsar was illuminated to welcome him.
The day Guru Hargobind Ji reached Amritsar coincides with Diwali. This is why Sikhs and Hindus celebrate on Diwali. Sikhs celebrate ‘Bandhi Chhor Divas,’ meaning ‘Day of Freedom.’ There are religious congregations held in gurdwaras all across the world including the three-day reading of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji taught us to be kind and help others - another lesson of Sikhism.


Buy Sakhian here and help out the Guru Gobind Singh Children's Foundation!