Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day 2026 गुरु तेग बहादुर शहीदी दिवस

Why Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is celebrated

This day marks the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, who was executed in Delhi in 1675. Sikhs remember him as Hind di Chadar, the shield of India, because he gave his life to defend the right of people of another faith to follow their own religion. His sacrifice is seen as one of the strongest stands for freedom of conscience in Indian history.

The day is one of remembrance rather than celebration. Sikhs recall his courage, his calm acceptance of God's will and his teaching that a person should neither frighten anyone nor live in fear of anyone.

History and story of Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day

Born Tyag Mal in Amritsar in 1621, he was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind. Sikh tradition says he earned the name Tegh Bahadur, brave of the sword, for his courage in a battle against Mughal forces while still a teenager. He became Guru in 1664 at Bakala and later founded the town of Chakk Nanaki, which grew into Anandpur Sahib. He travelled widely in the east, as far as Assam and Dhaka, and his son, the future Guru Gobind Singh, was born at Patna during these journeys. His hymns form part of the Guru Granth Sahib.

In 1675 a group of Kashmiri Pandits came to Anandpur and told him they were being forced to convert under Emperor Aurangzeb. The Guru chose to challenge the policy himself. He was arrested and brought to Delhi, and according to Sikh tradition he was told to accept Islam or perform a miracle. He refused both. His companions Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayala were put to death before him, and the Guru was beheaded in Chandni Chowk. Bhai Jaita carried his head to Anandpur Sahib, while Lakhi Shah Vanjara took his body away and cremated it by setting fire to his own house. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi stand at these sites. In 2025 the country marked the 350th anniversary of his martyrdom.

How Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is celebrated

Gurdwaras hold an Akhand Path, a continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib that ends on the day of martyrdom. Ragis sing his hymns, and preachers narrate the story of his sacrifice and that of his companions. Many gurdwaras organise nagar kirtans, langar for all visitors, blood donation camps and medical camps in his memory. Schools and Sikh bodies hold talks on religious freedom.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day across India

The largest gatherings take place at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi and at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, where his head was cremated. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh see the most visible observances. In Uttarakhand, Sikh communities in Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar mark the day with kirtan and langar at local gurdwaras. Because some Sikh bodies follow the lunar date, the observance in a given year may fall on a different day from 24 November.