Guru Hargobind and Bandi Chhor Divas

Following the martyrdom of his father, the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, militarized the Sikhs (the concept of Miri and Piri). Suspicious of his power, Emperor Jahangir imprisoned the Guru in the heavily guarded Gwalior Fort.

Inside the fort, there were 52 Rajput kings who had been stripped of their kingdoms and held as political prisoners in miserable conditions. The Guru improved their living conditions, led them in daily prayers, and became their spiritual anchor.

After some time, due to pressure from the Sufi saint Mian Mir, Jahangir realized his mistake and ordered the Guru's release. But Guru Hargobind refused to walk out of the fort alone.

He declared, 'I will only accept my freedom if the 52 kings imprisoned with me are also released.' Jahangir, trying to be clever, agreed but laid down a strict condition: 'Only those kings who can hold onto the tassels of the Guru's cloak as he walks out will be freed.'

Jahangir thought only a few kings would be able to grab the cloak. However, the Guru had a special heavy cloak stitched with exactly 52 tassels (Kaliyan).

On the day of release, all 52 kings held onto one tassel each and walked out of the fort to freedom alongside the Guru. This glorious day coincided with Diwali and is celebrated by Sikhs as 'Bandi Chhor Divas' (The Day of Liberation).