December: Sahibzaade Ate Mata Gujri Ji Shaheedi

Over the holiday period, Sikhs across the world reflect on the sacrifices made by the four sons (chaar sahibzaade) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and countless other sikhs of the time. 

 Mata Gujri Ji was the wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji; mother of Guru Gobind Singh Ji; and the grandmother of four amazing children who all sacrificed their lives   standing up against religious oppression at the ages of 6, 9, 14 and 18 years. Guru Gobind Singh Ji lost their sons, their mother and countless other Sikhs during this week.  The two older brothers [Ajit Singh Ji (18 years old) + Jujhar Singh Ji (14 years old)] sacrificed their lives on the battlefield fighting to uphold the identity of Khalsa Panth against the Mughals, and the two younger brothers [Zorawar Singh Ji (9 years old) + Fateh Singh Ji (6 years old)], were bricked alive on the orders of Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of Sirhind, for refusing to renounce their faith. For us, this is not a month of mourning, but a month to celebrate their courage and bravery. 

 Let us take this time to reflect on the virtue of courage and think about how we can cultivate this virtue in our life.  

 *ਪ੍ਰਣਾਮ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ* 🙏

Guru Gobind Singh Ji Gurpurab, also known as Prakash Purab, is a Sikh holiday that celebrates the birth of the tenth Sikh Guru,  Born in 1666 in Patna Sahib, Bihar, India. Guru Gobind Singh was a warrior, musician, poet, and saint. He is known for establishing the Khalsa, a community of soldier-Sikhs who defended the weak and upheld justice. Guru Gobind Singh taught that all people are equal and that people should fight for equality. 

Vaisakhi, a major festival for Sikhs, commemorates the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh on April 14, 1699, marking the establishment of a distinct Sikh identity and community.

Vaisakhi's Significance: Vaisakhi is a significant religious and cultural festival for Sikhs, marking the day Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, established the Khalsa Panth (the order of the Khalsa) in 1699. 

• The Khalsa:The Khalsa is a community of initiated Sikhs who are committed to serving the Divine and humanity, and who are expected to protect their communities from external threats. 
• Guru Gobind Singh Ji: On Vaisakhi day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh called upon Sikhs to uphold their faith and preserve the Sikh religion, and he initiated the first five Sikhs into the Khalsa, known as the Panj Pyare (the Five Beloved Ones). 
• Celebration:Vaisakhi is celebrated with community gatherings, celebrations, and the Sikh initiation ceremony (Amrit Sanchar). 
• Harvest Festival:Vaisakhi also marks the beginning of the spring harvest in the Punjab region of India. 

 Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji was the eighth Sikh Guru, born in 1656 and became Guru at the young age of five after the passing of his father, Guru Har Rai Ji. Despite his young age, Guru Ji was known for his wisdom, humility, and compassion.

Guru Ji is especially remembered for his selfless service during a smallpox and cholera epidemic in Delhi. Guru ji tended to the sick without concern for his own safety and ultimately contracted the illness himself, passing away at the age of just eight years old in 1664.

Guru Har Krishan Ji is lovingly remembered as “Bal Guru” (Child Guru) and is associated with the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi, which commemorates his service and sacrifice.