Day 307 of the 365 Days Project - Bandi Shhor Divas & Diwali - 5 of 5 Today was the celebration of 2 religious traditions; the Sikhs celebrating Bandi Shhor Divas and the Hindus - Diwali. The Sikhs tend to also celebrate Diwali as well as it falls on the same day as Bandi Shhor Divas. Both of these traditions essentially signify the triumphs of good over evil. These images were taken at my local Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship); it was so beautiful and peaceful here bringing people together on this auspicious day... Bandi Shhor Divas initiated when The Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, was freed from imprisonment in the famous fort of Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir in October, 1619. The reason for the young Guru’s imprisonment was nothing more than religious bigotry. The Guru’s father, Guru Arjan, had been martyred for the same reason. According to Sikh tradition, the Guru agreed to be freed only if the other Indian chiefs (rajahs) imprisoned with him were freed. Jahangir was under pressure from moderate but influential Muslim religious leaders like Hajrat Mian Mir, a friend of the Guru. So he relented grudgingly and ordained, Let those rajahs be freed who can hold on to the Guru’s coat tails and walk out of prison. He had in mind no more than four or five being freed with the Guru. However, the Guru was not to be outmanoeuvred in this way. He asked for a special coat to be made with 52 coat tails - same number as the rajahs in prison with him! And so the rajahs were freed and the Guru became known popularly as the Bandi Shor(Shodh) (Deliverer from prison). He arrived in Amritsar on the day of Diwali and Harmandir Sahib (also known as the Golden Temple) was lit with hundreds of lamps to celebrate his return; the day came to be known as the Bandi Shhor Divas (the day of freedom). Diwali means rows of lighted lamps. There is a story associated with Diwali, the story of Rama and Sita. Prince Rama and his wife, Sita, are banished from their home in Ayodhya by their father the King. Ramas brother, Lakshmana, goes with them to live in a forest. They are banished for 14 years. After many happy years, Sita is kidnapped by the ten-headed demon Ravana. He takes Sita to his island of Lanka. With the help of the monkey warrior, Hanuman, Rama rescues his wife. The people of Ayodhya light divas (oil lamps) in rows to guide Rama and Sita back from the forest to Ayodhya. On their return Rama is crowned King. Diwali also marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers give thanks for the bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and is the last major celebration before winter. Lakshmi symbolises wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead. Copyright © 2013 Jasdip Sagu Photography Website - jasdipsagu Facebook - facebook/jasdipsagu Twitter - @jasdipsagu Instagram - @jasdipsagu
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 22:17:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015