Veer Bal Diwas 2023: History, significance & other key things to know

Veer Bal Diwas is observed on December 26 to commemmorate the martyrdom of the four sons of the tenth and last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

The four sons were Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Shahibjada Jujhar Singh, Sahibjada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh.

History

In the war between the Mughals and Guru Gobind Singh, the guru's family got separated after a long, bitter battle on the bank of the Sarsa River. Later, the Sahibzaades were asked by the Mughal emperor to convert to Islam. Upon refusal, they were killed.

On Veer Bal Diwas, their supreme sacrifice is remembered.

Significance
Although all the four sons met with the same fate, December 26 marks the day when Sahibzadas Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, aged six and nine, were martyred.

In January last year, PM Modi announced that December 26 would be observed as Veer Bal Diwas, to mark the martyrdom of Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh. He announced this on the day marking the Prakash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh.