Truth About Diwali...!

[UK Sikhs.com]

VJKK VJKF

Please see poster below for details of this event!

[Guest SikhForLife]

for those of us who cant go to this

please tell us what the REAL significance is.. im really curious to know

[Sher Khalsa]

BANDI SHOD aka diwali

[Nama Singh]

a lot of people believe we celebrate Diwali because in Hinduism, Diwali celebrates Rama's homecoming, that is his return to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king; in Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali.

In Sikh perspective, Diwali is celebrated as the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji from the Gwalior city prison. History states two commonly known reasons for his imprisonment. One is that the Muslim Raja approached Guru Hargobind Ji upon his entering Gwalior and told the Guru to denounce his Sikh religion and to join the Muslim faith. With the intention of utilizing the Guru’s great strength and fearlessness needed in battles. Being outraged by this request, the Guru rejected his proposition. In retaliation he captured the Guru and held him against his will. But eventually the Guru managed to free himself of this unjust imprisonment and returned to his beloved town of Amritsar. To commemorate his undying love for Sikhism, the townspeople lit the way to, Harmandhir Sahib (referred to as the Golden Temple), in his honour.

When Guru jee was offered to be freed from the prison, he only agreed if other Indian chiefs (rajahs) imprisoned with him at the time were freed. Jahangir was under pressure from moderate but influential Muslim religious leaders like Hajrat Mian Mir, a friend of the Guru. So he relented grudgingly and ordained, "Let those rajahs be freed who can hold on to the Guru’s coat tails and walk out of prison". He had in mind no more than four or five being freed with the Guru. However, the Guru was not to be outmanoeuvred in this way. He asked f

or a special coat to be made with 52 coat tails - same number as the rajahs in prison with him! And so the rajahs were freed and the Guru became known popularly as the "Bandi Chhor" (Deliverer from prison). He arrived at Amritsar on the Divali day and the Har Mandar (now known as the "Golden Temple") was lit with hundreds of lamps i.e. he was received in the same way as the Lord Rama and the day came to be known as the "Bandi Chhor Divas" (the day of freedom). :wub:

[sher-e-panjab]

thas rite we celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, but how come the date changes every year,

[Guest Amrik$ingh]

Dhan Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji !

[The Khalsa Fauj]

GURU hARGOBIND sAHIB jI CAME TO Amritsar on this day.

[Balait_da_Sher]

The Sikh community celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas. It is celebrated in a very similar way but commemorates different events. On this day, Guru Hargobind Ji (the sixth Guru) reached Amritsar after his release from imprisonment in Gwalior fort by the Moghul emperor Jehangir. 52 others were incarcerated with him. Having received the concession from the emperor that anyone who attached himself to the Guru’s clothing could leave with him, the Guru had a coat made with long tassels so they all walked free. In honour of this feat, He is also known as Bandi Chhor, the Liberator. Sikh temples, homes and business properties are decorated and lit with candles and oil lamps. Sweets are distributed to all inside and outside the temples. Presents are exchanged and new clothes are worn.

Ok, wat happened was the same man who was responsible for Guru Arjun Dev ji's Martydom, got these fake holy men to tell the emperor that he will soon fall really ill. The emperor Jehangir got scared and asked them how he could avoid falling ill so these holy men told him that the emperor will have to find someone Very holy who would continously do prayers for the emperor for 40 days. This was all the scheme of Chandu who was responsible for Guru Arjan dev ji's Martydom and who was aslo the cheif advisor to the Emperor.

So Chandu said to the Emperor who is more holier than "Guru Hargobind singh". So Guru Hargobind singh jee was asked to pray for the emperor and Chandu told him that it wud be in the fort Guwalier. Emperor assured that Guru ji wud have all the things he wud want available.

So Guru ji was given a room for 40 days to pray for the emperor's wellbeing. While at the fort

which served as a jail for kings that emperor had imprisoned, All the prisoners used to listen to Guru ji's teachings and every one used to pray together.

40 days passed and the emperor had forgotton about Guru ji being in the prison. Another few weeks passed. And as it happens the Emperor started getting nightmares. He asked all the holy men for cure but he wasnt cured. Then pir Miya mir came to him and said you have imprisoned a saint in your fort that is causing ur nightmares.

Then orders were given to release Guru Hargobind singh jee. But he refused to come out on his own and said he would only leave if the 52 prisoners were released with him. At this he Emperor said that any prisoner who walked out while Holding on to Guru ji's clothes would be released.

Many sikhs who were anxious for the Guru's Return, celebrated the return of Guru ji by Lighting candles and decorating their houses. As this happened on the same day Hindu Celebrate their diwali, Sikhs celebrate this day in the same fashion but for different reasons

Sorry for any mistakes as i remember this sakhi from my childhood.

balait_da_sher

[Guest SatwantBeantKehar]

I have been to the gurduwara BandhiChor sahib built on the same escarpment as the fort (originally belonged to King Man Singh of Gwalior - but he died long before the Mughals annexed it) in which guruji was detained.

The fort is awesome but the Gurudwara is absolutely breathtaking - there is a light and sound show in the fort that gives an insight into mediveal india. A must see when u visit India for Historical gurudwaras.Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

[Guest JSS]

i found it astonishing when someone told me that all 52 of the rajas that guru ji helped to be freed from jehangir's prison eventually turned on him....

one would have to believe that guru ji knew all this would happen but still chose to free them...such compassion and love of waheguru........dhan dhan guru hargobind sahib ji!