Punjab
BASANT PANCHAMI: MARTYRDOM DAY OF VEER HAQIQAT RAI JI (1724-1742)

Basanti means yellow colour and panchmi means the fifth day of the bright half of the
lunar month. Being ignorant about the origin and background of Basant Panchmi, in
general people consider it a socio-cultural festival and celebrate it with great pomp and
show.

BHAGAT RAVI DAS JI: AN ASCETIC AND A SOCIAL REFORMER

Bhagat Ravidas Ji (1377-1527) was born to Raghu Ji and Ghurbinia Ji at Seer Goverdhanpur in Varanasi (also known as Banaras), Uttar Pradesh. In his sacred memory, at his birthplace, Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir has been established. The picture of this Mandir is being given at the end of this write-up. Throughout the year his followers visit this Mandir to pay respect to him and especially on his birthday lacs of his followers visit this sacred place to pay their obeisance.

VADDA GHALLUGHARA - THE BIGGER HOLOCAUST

Ahmad Shah Abdali was a poor pathan who by enhancing his power after conquering Kandhar, brought Balkh, Sindh, Punjab and Kashmir under his control. He invaded India eight times during 1747 to 1767 and his sixth invasion which he undertook on February 5, 1762 was to annihilate the Sikhs. 

BABA DIP SINGH JI SHAHID:A great LIBERATOR OF RELIGIOUS PLACES

Holding a khanda (double-edged sword) in his right hand and his severed head in his left hand Baba Dip Singh Ji (1682-1757) sacrificed his life fighting against oppression for the liberation of Sri Harimandar Sahib, Amritsar. He was born on January 26, 1682, in Pahuwind village, 40 km south-west of Amritsar and falls in District Tarn Taran of Punjab.

SARBANS DANEE SRI GURU GOBIND SINGH JI LIFE AND Teachings

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666-1708) the tenth spiritual teacher of the Sikhs is reverently known as SARBANS DANEE i.e., a person who sacrificed his ‘sarbans’ whole family for helping the oppressed persons and protecting a person’s right to profess the religion of one’s own choice. 

Life and Teachings of SRI GURU HAR RAI SAHIB JI

Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji (1630-1661) the seventh Guru of the Sikh faith was born on January 16, 1630 at Kiratpur Sahib in District Ropar of Punjab. At his birth place now stands Gurdwara Sheesh Mahal Sahib. He was the son of Baba Gurditta Ji (1613-1638) and grandson of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib (1595-1644) the sixth Guru of the Sikh faith.

VOYAGE OF THE SEVERED SACRED HEAD OF SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR SAHIB JI

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib , the ninth prophet-teacher of the Sikhs was born on April 1, 1621 in Amritsar, Punjab was cruelly martyred by beheading him on November 11, 1675 in Chandni Chowk, Delhi under the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb. At this place now stands Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib, Delhi. 

BABA DIP SINGH JI SHAHID: A GREAT LIBERATOR OF RELIGIOUS PLACES

Holding a khanda (double-edged sword) in his right hand and his severed
head in his left hand Baba Dip Singh Ji (1682-1757) sacrified his life fighting against
oppression for the liberation of Sri Harimandar Sahib, Amritsar.

BHAI MARDANA JI ON HIS 490th AKAL CHALANA ANNIVERSARY

Bhai Mardana Ji (1459-1534) had the privilege of spending all his life with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-539), the first Guru of the Sikhs. He was born in 1459 in Rai Bhoe Ki Talwandi, in Sheikhupura District which is now in Pakistan i.e. the same place which is the birth place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Being the birth place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, this place is now known as Nankana Sahib.

Life and teaching of Bhagat Namdev ji

 Bhagat Namdev Ji also spelled as Nam Dev Ji, his full name being Namdev Damaji Relekar is one of the 15 Bhagats whose hymns Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji included in Sri Adi Granth Sahib. In compiling Sri Adi Granth Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in addition to the hymns of his predecessor Sikh Gurus and his own hymns included the hymns of 15 Bhagats, 11 Bhatts and four others closely associated with the Sikh Gurus. These 15 Bhagats,

Life and Teachings of SRI GURU RAM DASS Ji

 Sri Guru Ram Das Ji was born in Chuna Mandi Bazaar, Lahore (now in Pakistan) on September 24, 1534. The existing Gurdwara called Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sri Guru Ram Das Ji has been built at the place of the earlier Gurdwara in Multan Mohalla Kucha Jamadaran, walled-city of Lahore (Pakistan). 

Sikh Religion Forbids Observance of 'Sootak' and 'Paatak'

            The roots of the word sootak are 'soot' and 'parsoot' which means being born or being delivered. The root of the word paatak is 'paat' which means overthrow or end.  According to the Hindu Shastras sootak implies the defilement or ritual impurity caused by the birth of a child and paatak means the defilement or ritual impurity caused by the death of a person.

Sikh Religion Forbids Observance of Sarads

According to the Hindu Shastras sootak implies the defilement or ritual impurity caused by the birth of a child and paatak means the defilement or ritual impurity caused by the death of a person.

MARTYRS OF GURU KA BAGH SAHIB MORCHA

At Gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh Sahib which is situated in village Ghookewali, Tehsil Ajnala, District Amritsar about 20 kms north of Amritsar, there are two historical Gurdwara Sahibs within the main complex, commemorating respectively Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji's visit in 1585 and Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib's visit in 1664. Guru Ka Bagh Sahib is laid out on the site of a bagh (garden) which gave the place its name. 

SHAHEED BHAI TAROO SINGH JI (1720-1745)

This year i.e. in 2024 Shaheed Bhai Taroo Singh Ji's 279th martyrdom day is being observed on July 16 by the Sikh Sangat all over the world. This gruesome incident took place 279th years ago. This brave and dauntless Sikh was born in a Sandhu Jatt family in Puhla village which at that time fell in District Kasur (now in Pakistan) but now falls in Distt. Tarn Taran of Punjab.