Veer bal diwas

In News: PM participates in historic programme marking ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi

• During the programme, the Prime Minister attended a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by about three hundred Baal Kirtanis.
• The Prime Minister also flagged off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi on the first Veer Bal Diwas
• Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Puri; Chief Minister of Punjab Shri Bhagwant Mann; Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde, Minister of State for Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi  also graced the event.

Veer bal diwas:

• Organised by Ministry of Culture
• To mark the martyrdom of sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh – Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji
• Veer Bal Diwas will remind us of the immense contribution of ten Sikh gurus and the sacrifice of the Sikh tradition for protecting the honour of the nation.

Sri Guru Gobind Singh:

• Born as Gobind Rai, he was the tenth Sikh Guru, a spiritual leader, warrior, poet and philosopher.
• He formally became the leader and protector of the Sikhs at the age of nine after his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, was killed by Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.
• Guru Gobind Ji led the Sikh community through his teachings and philosophy and soon gained historical importance.
• He was responsible for institutionalising the Khalsa, who played a significant role in protecting the Sikhs after his death.
• His compositions were included in Adi Granth complied by Guru Arjan Dev.
• He fought against the Mughals in the Battle of Muktsar in 1705.
• He also wrote the Zafarnama which was a letter to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
• The auspicious occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is also known as the Prakash Parv is the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh and falls every year in December or January.
• Guru Gobind Singh Ji was known for his inclination towards poetry and the philosophies and writings he stood by.
• Under his guidance, his followers adhered to a strict code.
• To celebrate Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, Sikhs around the world visit Gurudwaras, where prayer meetings take place in honour of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
• People participate in processions organised by the Gurudwaras, hold kirtans and also do Seva, a significant part of the Sikh religion, for the community.

Source: PIB

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Consider the following Bhakti Saints: (2013)

1. Dadu Dayal
2. Guru Nanak
3. Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

1. 1 and 3
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3
4. 1 and 2

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