Ranchi, Jharkhand 23 October 2014 :: Bandi Chhor Divaswas celebrated in Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Main Road, Ranchi by Sikh devotees. There was a special diwas to celebrate the occasion. Kirtas & Katha was performed by Ragi. Gurudwara was also decorated to celebrate the Diwas.
Bandi Shor (Shodh, Chhor) Divas (“Day of Liberation”) ( ???? ??? ???? ) is a Sikh festival which occurs during the month of October/November in the solar calendar, coinciding with the day of Diwali.
Bandi Shor (Shodh) Divas celebrates the release from prison in Gwalior of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, and 52 other princes with him, in October 1619. Following their release, Guru Hargobind Ji arrived in Amritsar in the midst of the Diwali festival, and the day was henceforth associated with his liberation.
Bandi Shor (Shodh) Divas and Diwali are separate festivals and commemorate events that may have occurred in different months; however, they are celebrated on the same day. For this reason, many people often think of these events as if they are the same. The release of the sixth Guru with the 52 kings was a few days before Diwali in 1619. However the celebration of that event was first observed on the day of their arrival in Amritsar – that happened to be the day of Diwali as well. .
The word “Bandi” is translated from Punjabi into English as “Imprisoned” (or “Prisoner”), “Shor” (shodh) as “Release,” and “Divas” as “Day,” rendering “Bandi Shor (Shodh) Divas” from Punjabi into English as “Prisoners’ Release Day.”