Descendents organise langar at Jor Mela

Akashdeep Virk Tribune News Service

In a time-honoured tradition that spans centuries, the 16th generation of Diwan Todar Mal has once again organised a langar for devotees arriving here to pay obeisance at the two historic gurdwaras on Shaheedi Jor Mela, which marks the martyrdom of two Sahibzadas and their grandmother Mata Gujri.

However, the family does not stay here on the last day of the mela, marking the cremation of nine-year-old Zorawar Singh, seven-year-old Fateh Singh and their 81-year-old grandmother Mata Gujri, and return to Delhi.

Who is Diwan Todar Mal

Diwan Todar Mal, a wealthy merchant from Sirhind, had come forward to cremate the bodies of two Sahibzadas, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, who were bricked alive on the orders of Wazir Khan, the Mughal military commander of Sirhind, and Guru Gobind Singh’s mother Mata Gujri, who had passed away in Thanda Burj where she was confined. In what is considered as one of the most expensive land deals of that time, Diwan Today Mal had purchased the land for cremation by stacking gold coins vertically on it.

“The very thought of the event makes us sad. To be here, in the shadow of their martyrdom, is a burden too heavy for our spirits to carry, especially for my father,” said Mandeep Kaur, the 16th generation of Diwan Todar Mal.

According to the family members, Mandeep’s father Gurmukh Singh, the 15th generation head of family, is asked by the divine soul of Sahibzadas to make preparations for the community kitchen. No money is taken from anyone for the langar. “We do as the Sahibzadas ask us to. If we are told to distribute candies among children, we do that. This time, we have already served different items,” Mandeep said, while distributing kulchas to devotees lined up at their stall near Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib. Like every year, the family reached Fatehgarh Sahib days before the Jor Mela, distributing various items to devotees. This year, the family has already served fruits, hot milk, candies, mathi chhole, dal chawal and rajma chawal since December 20. As per the family members, there is no fixed menu and they serve whatever is “told by Sahibzadas to Gurmukh Singh”.

The langar continues to be a symbol of selfless service, a cornerstone of Sikhism, and a tribute to the rich legacy of the Todar Mal family. The tradition of organising the langar at Fatehgarh is an annual fixture for the family. “We continue to organise this langar not just as a tradition, but as a living testament to the principles of Sikhism, especially the ideals exemplified by the Chhote Sahibzade,” said Mandeep Kaur. “It is our way of paying respect to them and continuing their legacy of service to the community,” she added.

The biggest historical event of the state, a three-day annual Shaheedi Jor Mela, began with religious fervour and ceremonies here today. The event is held to commemorate the martyrdom of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, two Sahibzadas of…

The biggest historical event of the state, a three-day annual Shaheedi Jor Mela, began with religious fervour and ceremonies here today. The event is held to commemorate the martyrdom of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, two Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.

To mark the beginning of the programme, Akhand Path of Guru Granth Sahib was started at Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup, where the two Sahibzadas were cremated.

Bhai Harpal Singh, Head Granthi of Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, performed the Ardas. Deputy Commissioner Sona Thind, SSP Ravjot Grewal, ADC Geetika Singh and a large number of devotees were present on the occasion.

Devotees thronged the two historic gurdwaras, Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup, on the first day of the Jor Mela. Nearly 30 lakh devotees are expected to pay obeisance at the gurdwaras during the mela.

Congress leadership led by Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Amar Singh and leaders from all major parties thronged Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib to pay reverence to the Sahibzadas.

Despite the appeal of the Akal Takht Jathedar to prepare simple ‘langar’, more than 500 community kitchens have started serving dishes like sandwiches, burgers, kheer, jalebis and juices.

The DC inaugurated an exhibition highlighting various achievements and public-oriented schemes run by the state government. She also inaugurated mini buses and e-rickshaws to carry senior citizens and women free of cost from different destinations to gurdwaras. She said all wine shops, circuses, swings and other sources of entertainment had been closed for three days. Night shelters, 24-hour power supply, clean drinking water, mobile toilets and medical facilities would be available round the clock.

DIG HS Bhullar and the SSP said adequate security arrangements were in place. Drones and CCTV cameras were keeping a close watch on anti-social elements, they added.

To maintain the smooth flow of the traffic, nine diversions and alternative routes had been identified, said the SSP, adding that 20 free parking sites and three temporary bus stands have been set up for the convenience of devotees.

Despite temperatures dipping to single digits, volunteers brave the cold to serve hot meals to the devote

Langars help devotees brave winter chill ahead of Shaheedi Jor Mela

Despite temperatures dipping to single digits, volunteers brave the cold to serve hot meals to the devotees

Tribune News Service

Langars set up on the roadside at Fatehgarh Sahib ahead of the Shaheedi Jor Mela on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vicky

This year’s Shaheedi Jor Mela, commemorating the martyrdom of Chhote Sahibzade and Mata Gujri, has seen devotion transcend gurdwara premises, with langars being organised by locals and even visiting devotees dotting the roads here.

Devotees who travel on foot, bikes, cars and buses from far-off areas in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, are being greeted with folded hands, chants of “Waheguru” at the langars. For them, they are their first escape from the unforgiving winter chill.

“The langars are saving us from the biting cold,” says Jaswinder Kaur, a devotee traveling from Delhi with her husband and five-year-old son said. “As soon as you see volunteers with folded hands on roadside asking to have langar, you know you have entered Punjab,” she added.

Despite temperatures dipping to single digits, volunteers brave the cold to serve hot meals to the devotees. The langars are serving a variety of wholesome and nourishing dishes, including hot milk, rotis paired with different types of sabzis, dal, saag, crispy pakoras, and glasses of fresh water. Several volunteers, some of whom have traveled from distant parts of the state and beyond, are seen working tirelessly at the langars, chopping vegetables, stirring pots, and distributing food. Despite the cold winds, their enthusiasm and sense of purpose never wavers.

“For many, the langar is an integral part of the experience of Jor Mela, where the sense of community is as strong as the spiritual bond that connects everyone heading towards Fatehgarh Sahib,” said Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Jatanwali village in Ambala district, who has been coming to Fatehgarh Sahib for the past five years with fellow village residents.

“This time, we are here on five trolleys with even more rasad (raw material) for sangat. Serving food to pilgrims who have been traveling for hours brings us a deep sense of joy,” said another volunteer from Golewala village in Faridkot.

Volunteers from nearby villages and towns have pooled in their resources, setting up makeshift kitchens under tents, while others have brought in supplies, including sacks of flour, rice, and vegetables.

“We have been doing this for so many years now, and yet every year, it feels like the supply of food is endless, as if by some divine grace. Even when it seems like we might run short, the food just keeps coming. It’s truly the blessings of Akal Purakh and the collective efforts of the sangat that make it possible,” said 65-year-old Mukhtiar Singh, a resident of Badali Ala Singh village on Mohali-Fatehgarh Sahib road.

Agency probing their role in illegal immigration via Canada-US border

More than 250 colleges in Canada along with several individuals are being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the illegal immigration of Indians to the US from the Canada border.

The ED investigation is based on a case registered by the Gujarat Police against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others over the death of four members of a Gujarat family who were found dead on the Canada-US border on January 19, 2022. While trying to enter the US illegally, the victims froze to death due to extreme cold. During its probe, the ED has found that the accused have been arranging admission of individuals in colleges based in Canada. “Once the individuals reach Canada, they illegally cross over to the US and never join colleges. The fee received by colleges is remitted back to the individuals’ accounts,” a senior ED officer said.

Indians are “lured” into the racket and charged between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh per person. The ED recently conducted a search operation at eight locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Vadodara during which it was revealed that around 25,000 students are being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by another to various colleges based outside India every year.

“It is learnt that there are around 1,700 agents based in Gujarat and around 3,500 of other entity all over India. Around 800 of them are active. As many as 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into agreement with one entity and more than 150 with another. Their involvement in the instant case is under investigation,” the officer said.

The agency suspects that out of the total 262 such colleges in Canada, a few, which are geographically located near the Canada-US border, are involved in the illegal immigration of Indians.

5 people killed and 20 wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood

At least 10 people were killed, including five journalists, and more than a dozen wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza early on Thursday, medics with the Gaza health authorities said.

Five people were killed and 20 wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood, the medics reported. They warned the death toll could rise as many people remained trapped under the rubble.

In a separate incident, five journalists were killed when their vehicle was struck in the vicinity of Al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat in central Gaza, the enclave’s health authorities said. The journalists worked for the Al-Quds Al-Youm television channel.

Palestinian media and local reporters said the vehicle was marked as a media van and was used by journalists to report from inside the hospital and Nuseirat camp.

The Israeli army said its air force attacked the vehicle in a “targeted manner”, adding members of the Islamic Jihad militant group were inside.

On Wednesday, Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel traded blame over their failure to conclude a ceasefire agreement despite progress reported by both sides in past days.

As many as 45,361 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, the Gaza health ministry said on Wednesday.

he Anandpur Sahib was under siege by the Hindu Hill Chiefs and Mughal troops who were hostile toward Sikhs, in1705. Several battles were fought during that time. A peace treaty was offered by the Mughals and the Hindu Chiefs to the Sikhs. In this treaty, they swore on their individual Gods and promised that if Guru Sahib accompanied by his army would leave the fort of Anandpur they would not attack him and his people. Guru Gobind Singh was aware of the fake promises made by the Mughals and the Hill Chiefs, yet on the insistence of his army decide to leave the fort.  During the winter of 1705, the Sikhs evacuated Anandpur Sahib as ordered in the treaty (6-7 Poh, Sambat, 1762). However soon thereafter, Aurangzeb’s generals along with the Hindu Hill Chiefs broke the treaty and attacked the Sikhs near present-day Majri, Punjab. During this battle, Mata Gujri Ji along with Guru Sahib’s younger sons Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji were separated from the caravan of Guru Ji at the edge of the River Sarsa. A Gurudwara Sahib is also built up there in their honor “Gurudwara Pariwar Vichhora Sahib”. 

Mata Gujri and the Chhote  Sahibzadeh went on foot to the town of Chak Dhera. They spent the night there at Kumma Mashki’s hut and ate their last meal offered by Brahmani Lakshmi. Kumma Mashki, a ferry operator and water carrier, was a Muslim by birth, but he supported and allied with the Sikhs. 

As per history, it is quite unclear how Mata Ji and Sahbzade met Gangu. A former servant, Gangu, a Kashmiri pandit, saw them and suggested that they come with him to his village. They were grateful for his help and went with him. However, the servant breached their trust and in greed for money, then turned her and the Sahibzadeh over to Jani Khan and Mani Khan, local Mughal authorities in the town of Morinda. They were housed here in kotwali (jail). The Sahibzadeh were subjected to torture while in Mughal custody to persuade them to convert to Islam. When they refused to accept Islam, they were transferred to Sirhind, where the local Mughal emperor Nawab Wazir Khan received them.

As per Bhai Duna Singh Hindoria (Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s contemporary and documentarian), to transport the Sahibzadeh, 35 km from Morinda to Sirhind, the Mughals tied the Sahibzadeh’s hands and feet, stuffed them in sacks, and tied them to the sides of a horse. The hands and feet of Mata Gujri were also tied, and a large, inverted pot containing hot chili peppers was placed over her head and face. All this was done to torture them and convince them to convert their religion to Islam. 

In Sirhind,  Mata Gujri and the Sahibzadeh were locked in a Thanda Burj (cold tower) designed for the nawab’s (regional ruler’s) summer. In the winter, the North winds blowing down from the Himalayan mountains would have made it very cold for Mata Gujri and the Sahibzadeh because they were imprisoned, perhaps without any winter clothing.

A devotee of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Moti Ram Mehra, decided that he would risk his life but would provide milk to the Chhote Sahibzadeh and Mata Ji. On one of the nights, he climbed a tree adjacent to the Thanda Burj, lowered himself into the tower, and provided them with warm milk.

Baba Moti Ram Mehra (fl. late 17th – early 18th century) was a devoted disciple of Guru Gobind Singh who, disregarding the risk to his own life, managed to enter the Thanda Burj in a very dramatic manner and serve milk to Mata Gujri, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the two younger Sahibzadas (sons) of Guru Gobind Singh for three nights, where they were kept under arrest by the Mughal Governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan.^[1][2]

Moti Ram was born into a Hindu family. His parents were Bholi and Hariya Ram. His uncle was Bhai Himmat Rai Ji, a member of 1st panj pyare. On 27 December 1704, the Sahibzadas were martyred, and Mata Gujri also died. He arranged sandal wood for their cremation. Someone told the Nawab that his servant had served those prisoners with milk and water. The Nawab ordered the arrest of Baba Moti Ram Mehra, his mother, wife, and son. He did not conceal his act and boldly told the Nawab that it was his pious duty to serve the imprisoned children and their grandmother. Hence Baba Moti Ram Mehra, along with his family, was sentenced to death by being squeezed in a Kohlu (oil press). His sacrifice was first sermonized by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.

ਮਾਤਾ ਗੁਜਰੀ ਜੀ ਵਲੋਂ ਅਪਣੇ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਨੇਹਾ (Kavita 4) – Bhai Maninder Singh Ji | Devotional Song 2024