The Fatehgarh Sahib Shaheedi Jor Mela -Annual Fatehgarh SahibMartyrdom Fair turns the city into Basanti, with the Sikh masses draped in their best Sikhi attire and the spirit of Sikhi oozing the air. A visit by the uninitiated to this annual pilgrimage centre can be an eye-opener as to where the Sikhs derive their strength from. A regular participant for the last many years, poet-artiste Gurleen Kaur describes the pious atmosphere for WSN readers in text and photos.

FATEHGARH SAHIB -THE FORT of victory. Truth overtaking falsehood. Chardikala subduing hatred. The Sikh Commonwealth versus the tyranny of the Moghul rule. That is what it stands for.

Swaying with the mass of humanity bathing in the spirit of the supreme sacrifice of the two children of the Sikh Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh at the Shaheedi Jor Mela -Martyrdom Fair is an experience I give to myself every year for the last many years. With the thousands of devotees who throng the historic shrine where 9-year-old Zorawar Singh and 7-year-old Fateh Singh were bricked alive and their grandmother Gujri Ji killed in the Thanda Burj -the Cold Tower, I imbibe the spirit of the Khalsa intermingling with the Sangat.

The Sikh community embraces the valour, the sacrifice, the victory of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the golden history that taught us to be strong and patient and never give up on our faith and principles even in most trying and difficult situations. As we walk through the Sangat to pay obeisance, every brick around us reminds us to fight against injustice, at the dusk of every year.

Sikhs have been birthing warriors who stand up frightening the devils, time and again bringing the dawn with bright light for the coming generations and joining the present ones to their roots again even after thousand attempts to uproot them by the enemies and adversaries. The present Farmers Morcha should also be seen in this perspective.

The whole environs of Fatehgarh Sahib and the thronging Sangat seemed to be reiterating, “The Khalsa will live till eternity and will keep blooming in the world of evils like the lotus in a swamp and the ones trying to destroy them, will be destroyed themselves.”

In the remembrance of the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the annual congregation is organised at Fatehgarh Sahib where Fateh Singh Ji and Zorawar Singh Ji, were bricked alive in a wall when they were asked to give up their religion by Mughal emperor Wazir Khan. They refused, saying “We do not care for worldly wealth. We will not give up our religion at any cost.”

Sikh Sangat from different regions of India and across the world participate in this congregation. People from the villages of Punjab travel to this place in Tractor-trolleys to pay homage to the martyrdom of Chhotte Sahibzade -the younger sons of the Tenth Master.

Not only the Gurdwaras, but a good number of houses become temporary inns for visiting relatives or even unknown devotees who have come to be part of the Shaheedi Jor Mela. . Though, it was expected that the numbers may be less due to the COVID19 pandemic, but that did not seem to have any effect and thousands gathered with enthusiasm and devotion.

The holy ambience is uplifting. Religious hymns can be heard everywhere on the streets, in the langars. Turban tutorial camps and movies on the martyrs donned the entire parade.

The winter cold seemed to be providing much-needed nutrition to the throng of humanity, many of whom had decided to go to the Farmers Morcha in Delhi at the conclusion of the Annual Martyrdom Fair.

The Sangat -young and old were recharged with the spirit of the martyrdom of the two young warriors, their determination reaffirmed with the message of the Guru percolated into the veins of one and all that, “No no one can weaken you, influence you, or force you to change your religion and your identity if you have faith, in Akal Purakh -God Almighty.

I have been participating in the Jor Mela for many years and every year I witness something remarkable. This time, as I was observing the events along the sides of the road, I heard poetry being recited from one of the tents by two girls. They were describing the history of these days through their poetry in a very melodious voice. As I entered the tent, I noticed an old man explaining the meaning of the words in the poetry to his grandchildren. I felt so happy and grateful that the legacy is being passed from generation to generation.

There is no shortage of Wazir Khans today. Oppression continues -blatantly and insidiously. My participation this year confirmed that the legacy of the supreme sacrifice pervades through the young generation and like the Sahibzadas, this would be fought tooth and nail.