Travel
Sites
Visit
Goa, Karnataka,
Kerala,
Tamil
Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh
in South India,
Delhi,
Rajasthan,
Uttar
Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh in North India, Assam,
Bengal,
Sikkim
in East India
|
|
|
|
Go
to :
Index
File
Sikhs mark 'Bandi Chor Diwas' on Diwali festival
by Ravinder
Singh Robin
Amritsar:
While Hindus around the world celebrate their
biggest festival of lights Diwali with full enthusiasm,
Sikhs celebrate the day as `Bandi Chor Diwas' or,
the day of release of detainees. Sikh history traces
these celebrations way back to the 17th century. It
was during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir
when they got into conflict with Sikhs. The Sixth
Guru, Guru Hargobind secured the release of not only
himself but also 56 other kings who had been imprisoned
at the Gwalior Fort. And, on this day the Guru and
the Kings returned to Amritsar to a glorious welcome.
Since then Diwali festival means the marking of the
historical event for the Sikhs. Giani Gurbachan Singh,
Jathedar, Sri Akal Takth said: "Diwali is celebrated
with great enthusiasm and joy. Every religion has
its own way to celebrate the festival. Our Hindu brothers
celebrate Diwali to mark the return of Lord Rama.
Now, Muslims have also started celebrating it. Sikhs
celebrate Diwali as `Bandhi Chor Diwas' (detainees'
release day). To celebrate this day, number of religious
gatherings are organized. Sri Darbar Sahib arranges
all the celebrations like installing special tents
and arranging community meals." He added: "The message
of this sacred day is that like Guru Hargobind was
not having any dispute with anyone. We should also
follow the same path. He had always worked to help
people against poverty and injustice. Though Guru
Ji was not having any relation with Rajput kings but
for seeing the injustice to them he put a condition
of their release along with him." In 1577, the foundation
stone of the Golden Temple was laid on the day of
Diwali. In fact the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das
asked all his disciples to assemble to receive the
blessings of the Guru. Since then, millions of Sikhs
pay their obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib (the Golden
temple) on this day and participate in the religious
and cultural functions. The bustling activity is a
mixture of gay enthusiasm and religious obeisance.
Diwali celebrations at the golden temple over the
years have indeed become a spectacle. It is not for
nothing they say, `Dal roti ghar ki, Diwali Amritsar
ki', (There's nothing like food cooked at home but
nothing compares celebrating Diwali at Amritsar).
-Oct 20,
2008
|
|
|
|