Shaheedi Jor Mela or Shaheedi Sabha is a three day annual religious
congregation organized every year at Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib in the
Fatehgarh Sahib district on 26 th ,27 th and 28 th December to commemorate the
sacrifices and martyrdom of Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, the youngest
sons of the tenth Sikh Guru Sri guru Gobind Singh Ji on December 27,1705.
The Fatehgarh Sahib Martyrdom fair turns the city into Basanti when the Sikh
masses are robed in their attire and diffusing the fragrance of Sikhi all around.
This annual fair is an eye-opener for the Sikhs to derive the spirit of valour
and victory, strength and stamina. Fatehgarh Sahib shrine is the symbol of
victory of truth and determination over falsehood, and the two younger sons
of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji over the tyranny of the Moghul rule thousands
and thousands of devotes, irrespective of caste and religion, pay their
obeisance and homage where nine year old Zorawar Singh and seven year old
Fateh Singh were bricked alive. Their grandmother Gujri Ji was martyred in
the Thanda Burj (Cold Tower).It was Diwan Todar Mal, Hindu Merchant of
Sirhand, Who on 13 December, 1705 performed the cremation of the three
martyred bodies of Zorawar Singh, Fateh Singh and Mata Gujri. The wealthy
merchant had to cover the required ground for cremation with gold coins to
get the release of three bodies. Todar Mal forsake everything for his love of Sri
Guru Gobind Singh Ji. That is why the Sikhs hold Dewan Todar Mal in High
esteem. To perpetuate the memory of the noble minded Seth, a road in
Sirhand town and a hall in Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib have been named after
him.
The victory and valour of the other two sons Jujhar Singh and Singh who
were martyred in Chamkaur Sahib teach us to remain steadfast, strong and
patient and adhere to the principles even in the most trying situations and
hardships of life. The sacrifices imbibe in us the spirit to fight against injustice
and tyranny.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji uttered:
“fJB g[[soB e/ ;h; go tkodhJ/ ;s uko
uko w{J/ s' fenk j{nk iht/ eJh jIko.”
“I have sacrificed my four sons.
So what of my four sons are martyred
when thousands of Singhs are alive.”
The annual congregation at Fatehgarh Sahib reminds us how the two
younger sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji were bricked alive who refused to
give up their religion and embrace Islam by the Mughal Emperor, Wazir Khan.
He offered them treasure and comforts of the world if they embrance Islam
religion but they refused boldly and stuck to their faith in Sikhism. Gurudwara
Fatehgarh Sahib, north of the Sirhand marks the site of their live entombment.
Their mortal remains were cremated at a nearby place where Gurudwara Jyoti
Sarup is situated.To pay homage to the valiant innocent martyrs a golden
Palaquin of ‘Panj Pyaras’is taken out in pageant which moves from the
Gurudwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib to Gurudwara Sri Jyoti Sarup. The Shaheedi
Joe Mela is accompanied with performances of marital arts known as ‘Gatika’.
So the community that is replete with valiant, vigorous, enthusiastic and
heroic personalities is sure to move ahead with prosperity. That is why the
vanity and egoism and the high-sounding pride of the Mughals was sheltered.
The First day of the fair is observed purely in religious spirits. Earlier, the
second day was reserved for rallies and meetings by political parties. But
recently, this system has stopped and only tributes to younger Sahibzadas
are paid peacefully Shiromani Gurudwara Management Committee arranges
congregation programs where Sikh Preaches, Raagis, ‘Dhadi Jaltas’ sing
Shabads and narrate the history of the Sikh culture. People a adjoining areas
organize ‘Langar’ which is served on the way to lacs of people. Women folk
prepare food in community kitchen and serve with full faith to ‘Sangat’.
The cooperation and enthusiasm of locals is seen during the four with
full affection and fervor. An important custom of Shaheedi Jor Fair is the
organization of ‘Akhand Path’ to get the blessings of divine souls who were
martyred.
The history of Sirhand goes back to before Christ times but its growth
was witnessed from 1000 A.D. to 1764 A.D. When it was finally razed to the
ground. Wazir khan involvement of attack on Sri Guru Gobind Singh 1708 A.D.
led to his death and with this the destruction of Sirhand followed Sri Guru
Gobind Singh’s prophesy about Sirhand proved true and its wreckage was
scattered over the entire area between Yamuna and Satluj. It was Banda Singh
Bahadur who formed a peasant army and fought battles as ordained by the
Tenth Guru of the Sikhs Sirhand was ultimately captured in January 1764 by
the Khalsa Army. Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib had a small gathering initially in
1800 A.D. but it grew to manifold with the passage of time.
The holy ambience of the Gurudwara is uplifting the visiting devotees
are a force of determination that none can weaken the Sikh community and
their religion with full faith in the tenets and principles of Sikhism the legacy
of the sacrifice should pervade through the generation to generation.
Dr. Jaswant Singh Puri
Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa)
Social Activist
Punjab Rattan, Member, Dewan Family,
Erstwhile Princely State of Patiala
(Author of the world acclaimed book ‘Rise and Decline of the Mughal Empire’
Presented to His Highness &Nobel Laureate, Dalai Lama of Tibet)
