Page 92 - BAALVARDI TEACHER RESOURCE

Do you think the emperor listened to Guru Ji? He did not. In fact, he tried to trick
Guru Ji. He told Guru Ji that anyone who could hold on to the Guru’s clothes
would be allowed to leave the prison with him. There were 52 other prisoners!

How would they all be able to hold onto Guru Ji’s clothes? The Guru’s Sikhs were
so worried they felt they would never be able to see their Guru Ji again. Guru Ji
could not be tricked. He was very wise. He told his sangat to do patth and
remember Waheguru and remain in chardikala. They did as they were told. In the
meantime, Guru ji thought and thought about how he could help all 52 prisoners
leave the prison with him. Finally, he had an idea.

Guru Hargobind Ji had a very special chola made. This special chola would have
52 tassels, one for each prisoner to hold onto as they walked through the prison

gate. The day of the prisoner release came, and all of Guru Ji’s Sikhs were very
excited, they would finally be able to see their Guru again. The emperor was
convinced that Guru Ji would not be able to take all 52 prisoners with him. The
prison gate opened and standing in the doorway was Guru Hargobind Ji, wearing
a magnificent chola, With 52 rajas holding onto a tassel of the magnificent chola
Guru Ji had made especially for them.

Guru Ji and the 52 Rajas were free and everyone was so happy to see them.
The Sikhs, who had been waiting for so long, finally had their Guru back. Guru Ji,
accompanied by his Sikhs, began his long journey back to Amritsar. When the
people of Amritsar heard that Guru Ji had been released and was coming home,
they were overjoyed and planned a special celebration. They collected and
decorated diyas, hundreds of them, and planned to light them all the day Guru Ji
returned to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness.

After hundreds of years, Sikhs all around the world still light candles and diyas on

Bandi Chohr Divas Day to celebrate Guru Ji’s return from prison and to
remember the values of Miri Piri that Guru Ji wanted us all to live by each day.
Our Gurus did not just tell us how to live our lives; they showed us by example.
He wanted all of us to strive to find ways to bring light into the world by doing
good deeds, helping others, and remembering the love of Waheguru.

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