Martyrdom Guru Tegh Bahadur Festival 2024, India

Overview

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind. Guru Hargobind was the sixth guru. Guru Hargobind had one daughter, Bibi Viro, and five sons: Baba Gurditta, Suraj Mal, Ani Rai, Atal Rai, and Tyaga Mal. Tyaga Mal was born in Amritsar in the early hours of 1 April 1621. He came to be known by the name Tegh Bahadur, given to him by Guru Hargobind after showing his valour in a battle against the Mughals. 'Tegh Bahadur' translates to 'Mighty of the Sword'.

About Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur resisted forced conversions of non-Muslims to Islam during Aurangzeb's rule. He was publicly killed in 1675 on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi. Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi are the sites of his execution and cremation.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Martyrdom Day

Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is observed on 24 November 2022 annually. He is the ninth guru in the lineage of Sikh saints. He is also known as 'Hind ki Chadar' or 'Shield of India'. He has sacrificed his life for the rights of a community of people who were not even of his religion. He was publicly killed in 1675 on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi at Chandni Chowk.

Timeline

Guru Tegh Bahadur was born on 1 April 1621 and died on 11 November 1675. He was ordained as a guru on 16 April 1664.

Martyrdom

Aurangzeb aimed to convert the Hindu population in India to Islam at the risk of execution if they rebelled against his diktat. A delegation of Kashmir Pandits sought help from Guru Tegh Bahadur to prevent the conversions.> Guru Tegh Bahadur demanded that if the emperor successfully converted him to Islam, the others would be ready to convert too.

Upon refusing to convert to Islam, he was imprisoned for 4 months. Following his refusal to perform a miracle to prove his closeness to God, three of his followers were killed in front of him. Still refusing to be converted, Guru Tegh Bahadur was ordered to be decapitated by the emperor. His decapitation was carried out in front of the public in Chandni Chowk in Delhi. The execution was on 11 November 1675.