Diwali is often called the “Hindu Festival of Lights”and the main day of the festival day 2021 will take place on Monday, October 24.
Hindus around the world will light many candles and enjoy fireworks during the five-day celebration period.
However, you will also see people of other faiths who seem to get involved with them It’s a miracle traditions.
So why do Sikhs light candles during a Hindu festival?
Do Sikhs celebrate Diwali?
To be clear, Sikhs don’t actually celebrate Divas, they celebrate Bandi Chhorh Divas, which means “Prisoners Release Day”.
It happens at the same time of year as Diwali, so they are combined.
Prisoner Liberation Day is a celebration of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargabind Sahib, who was released from Gwalior prison in India along with 52 princes in 1619.
The day is seen as the triumph of right over wrong and a tribute to the Guru who saved the lives of 52 people without violence.
The sixth guru, along with hundreds of others, is believed to have been a political prisoner of the Mughals, despite being otherwise innocent of any crime.
The Mughal emperor Jahangir met the Guru during his imprisonment and became close to him – partly because the Guru saved him from a lion while hunting, but also because the Guru’s prayers were believed to have cured the emperor of a serious illness.
Such was the debt of the emperor Guru Hargabind, he agreed to release him, but the Guru refused to accept if he could not take with him 52 princes (rajas).
The emperor was reluctant at first, but agreed to release any prisoners who could hold the Guru’s cloak, believing that this would severely limit the numbers.
However, the Guru outwitted the Emperor by creating a cloak of 52 tails (in some places reported to be pieces of thread) so that all the rajas could hold on and go free with him.
The Guru’s devotion is celebrated to this day at Bandi Chor Gurudwara (a Sikh temple built at the site of the Guru’s imprisonment) with ‘Deewalee’ (clay oil lamps), candles and fireworks on Bandi Chorh Diwa.
It is also the time when Sikhs can make a pilgrimage to the Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib), which is the religion’s most important pilgrimage site.
On Diwali, the Golden Temple in Amritsar is lit up with Diyas (lamps) and fireworks are also set off.
MORE: What is Diwali and what to say to someone who celebrates the holiday?
MORE: Colorful decorations to light up your home on Diwali
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