Shaheedi Jor Mela

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Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Punjab, India.jpg
Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab

Shaheedi Sabha (earlier Shaheedi jod Mela [1] ) is a three-day annual religious congregation (get-together) organised every year in December at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, in the Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab, India to pay homage to the martyrdom of Chhotte Sahibzade Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the youngest sons of the 10th sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh. [2]

Contents

Martyrdom

Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh (aged 9 and 7 years respectively) along with Mata Gujri, mother of Guru Gobind Singh were imprisoned by the governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan. He offered them treasure and easy lives if they would only convert to Islam, but they refused and stuck their faith in Sikhism. They were entombed alive by being bricked into a wall on 26 December 1705, but the wall collapsed. Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of the Sirhind [3] marks the site of their live entombment. [4] Their mortal remains were cremated at a nearby place, where Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup is situated. [5]

Sabha schedule

Sikh sangat at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib Fatehgarh Sahib Sangat.jpg
Sikh sangat at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib

The first day of the sabha is observed purely in religious spirits. Earlier on 2nd day of Sabha, rallies and meetings were held by various political parties. But recently all political parties have stopped organizing conferences, to pay the tributes to Chhotte Sahibzade peacefully. [6] Lakhs pray at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup and Gurdwara Thanda Burj on this historic occasion every year during this three-day Sabha. [7]

Each year, the district administration would do special arrangements for devotees and people visiting the sabha like parking areas, controlling flow of traffic by setting up special barricades and nakas, medical & emergency services and by deploying heavy police force for security. [8] The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has been arranging deewan, where the Sikh preachers, ragis, dhadi jathas use traditional music to retell the history of the Sikh. Although Sabha is a religious event, a heavy police force is normally deployed all around the Sabha site. [9]

Guru ka langar

People of villages of adjoining areas organise Langar which is served on the way to lakhs arriving here. The villagers pool grains, vegetables, milk and other eatables and prepare the langar for devotees locally known as sangat. Women folk prepare food for langar in collective kitchen in open area on the roadside and men serve it to the sangat coming from far away areas on Buses, Trucks, trollies and other means of transportation.

See also

Related Research Articles

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The Saka Sirhindor the Chhotte Sahibzada Saka refers to the killing and martyrdom (Shaheedi) of the two sons of Guru Gobind Singh, named Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. The two Sikh children are remembered as the Chhotte Sahibzade. They are believed to have attained martyrdom on 26 December 1704 at the ages of 5(or 6) and 9 respectively. In remembrance of this occasion, the Shaheedi Jor Mela is organised annually at Fatehgarh Sahib Punjab, India, to commemorate the supreme sacrifice at the place of their martyrdom on the 24th to 26 December.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib</span> Sikh gurdwara in Punjab, India

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Baba Moti Ram Mehra was a devoted disciple of Guru Gobind Singh who, disregarding the risk to his own life, managed to enter the Thanda Burj in a very dramatic manner and serve milk to Mata Gujri, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the two younger Sahibzadas (sons) of Guru Gobind Singh for three nights, where they were kept under arrest by the Mughal Governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan.

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References

  1. "After another 'name change', Shaheedi Sabha begins in Punjab". 27 December 2018.
  2. "Pb CM appeals to parties not to hold political conferences at 'Shaheedi Jor Mela'".
  3. http://www.whereincity.com/photo-gallery/gurudwaras/fatehgarh-sahib-205.htm
  4. "Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India". Archived from the original on 2008-02-02. Retrieved 2008-02-12. Sirhind Tourist Circuits & Cities of Punjab
  5. "Gurudwara Jyoti Sarup | Fatehgarh Sahib, Govt. Of Punjab | India".
  6. "No political conferences, lavish langars at Shaheedi Jor Mela this year". 26 December 2019.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-30. Retrieved 2008-12-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Prohibitory orders issued for Shaheedi Jor Mela; 3,000 cops deployed in Fatehgarh Sahib". 23 December 2016.
  9. http://www.khalsanet.org/sikhs/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=2