The annual three-day congregation, officially named 'Shaheedi Sabha', to commemorate the martyrdom of the two youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, and his mother Mata Gujri ji began in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib town on Wednesday.
The glorified history behind this day
In a heart-wrenching chapter of history, three members of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s family were captured during a surprise attack by Mughal forces in 1704. Among them were two young sons of guru, Sahibzade Zorawar Singh, who was just 9 years old, and Sahibzade Fateh Singh, who was only 7 years old.
On December 26, 1704, these brave souls faced a harrowing trail of faith. The Mughal faujdar of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, ordered the brothers to renounce their faith. Despite their tender age, the sons stood firm, refusing to abandon their beliefs. In an act of unimaginable cruelty, they were sentenced to be bricked alive.
As the two Chote Shaibzade embraced their fate with unwavering courage, their grandmother, Mata Gujri, who had been imprisoned alongside them, succumbed to the unbearable grief of the loss. Her passing marked another tragic moment in this tale of sacrifice and valor.
Today, gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib stands at the sacred site where Zorawar Singh Ji and Fateh Singh ji achieved martyrdom. It is a place of profound reverence, for humanity. Each year, tens of thousands gather to honor the memory of the Sahibzades and Mata Gujri ji, drawing inspiration from their unyielding commitment to their faith and principles.
The story of Fatehgarh Sahib reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of faith, courage, and sacrifice in the face of adversity.
The supreme sacrifice made by the younger Sahibzadas at a tender age hardly finds any parallel in world history.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann described the unprecedented and supreme sacrifice by Chotta Sahibzadas along with Mata Gujri as inspiration for the coming generations to fight against tyranny, oppression, and injustice.
The Chief Minister, who paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib on Monday, eulogized the supreme sacrifice of Chotta Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri and said these sacrifices were unprecedented in the annals of the history of mankind across the globe.
He said the entire Punjab observed this month as the ‘month of mourning’ as the Chotta Sahibzadas were bricked alive by the tyrant rulers during these days. To manage crowds during Shaheedi Sabha, a strong contingent of 3,200 police personnel has been deployed to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the Shaheedi Sabha.
Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla visited Fatehgarh Sahib and reviewed the security arrangements at the spot to ensure that the event would be conducted in a smooth and secure manner in the district.
He asked officers to adopt the utmost humble approach towards the “Sangat” and work with full dedication and determination to make this even more successful.
He told the media that several new initiatives have been implemented by the police to ensure peaceful and smooth conduct of the Shaheedi Sabha this year so that the pilgrims would not face any kind of hassle in paying obeisance to the Chotey Sahibzade.
A total of 20 parking spaces have been earmarked and shuttle bus service between the parking area and Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib has been expanded to 100 buses for the convenience of the devotees. The entire city has been converted into a one-way traffic route.
The area has been divided into five sectors, and a clear VIP route, which also serves as the emergency route, has been delineated. Extensive use of volunteers from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Khalsa Aid, National Cadet Corps (NCC), and other NGOs has been made.
Special DGP Shukla said drones have been deployed to monitor traffic and parking arrangements. Six help centers, which include a police desk, an information desk, and medical aid, have also been set up to assist devotees coming from all over the country.