00:00Why Sikhs don't celebrate the last week of December?
00:03While this period may be festive for many,
00:05Sikhs observe it as a time of remembrance and sacrifice,
00:08a period of martyrdom remembered through the lens of Chardi Kala.
00:12But why?
00:13Sikhs observe the Shahidi Hafta, the martyrdom week,
00:16every year in the month of poor from 6th to 15th.
00:19These days trace back to the year 1704,
00:21Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Sikh Guru,
00:24who sacrificed his entire family in the defence of faith and righteousness,
00:28refusing to bow or convert to Islam.
00:30Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's forces had surrounded the Anandpur Sahib fort
00:34and the condition imposed was very clear.
00:36The siege would end only if Guru Gobind Singh Ji agreed to vacate the fort.
00:40He did it.
00:41The promise, however, was broken.
00:43While crossing the flooded Sarsa river amid harsh winter conditions,
00:47Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his family were attacked and separated.
00:50With Guru Gobind Singh Ji were his two elder sons,
00:52Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujar Singh,
00:55along with a small group of 46 warriors.
00:57On the other side were his mother,
00:59Mata Gujri Ji and the two younger sons,
01:01Baba Zoravar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji.
01:04The battle of Chamkor in Punjab began where 46 faced the Mughal army of Lakhs.
01:09The two elder sons, Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujar Singh Ji
01:13were martyred in the battle, followed by the remaining six.
01:16Their courage embodied the Khalsa spirit of Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaung,
01:20reinforcing that age is no barrier to bravery,
01:23after which their last rites were performed.
01:25Guru Gobind Singh Ji was urged by the Panj Pyare to leave so that the mission of Sikhi stayed alive.
01:30Meanwhile, Mata Gujri Ji and the younger Sahib Zadeh took shelter,
01:34but they were betrayed and handed over to the Mughal authorities.
01:37In the court of Vazir Khan, the two young Sahib Zadeh were presented with the same choice,
01:42convert to Islam or face death.
01:44They refused.
01:45After which, they were confined to the Thanda Burj or the Cold Tower at Sar Hind in Punjab
01:50in freezing conditions without food, bedding or warm clothing.
01:54For refusing to renounce Sikhi, the younger Sahib Zadeh,
01:57aged 7 and 9 years, were then bricked alive.
02:00Upon hearing this news, Mata Gujri Ji also attained martyrdom.
02:04The next day, Diwan Todarmal, a Hindu merchant from Sar Hind,
02:08performed their final rites after purchasing land with gold coins laid on the edge.
02:12This is why for Sikhi, the last week of December is not a time for celebration,
02:17but of remembrance and sacrifice.
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