Watch: CM Adityanath observes ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at his residence

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath observed 'Veer Bal Diwas' at his official residence in Lucknow on December 26. He paid homage to Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh by carrying the Holy Book on his head.

Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh sacrificed their lives for defending their faith.

‘Veer Bal Diwas’ is observed every year to pay tribute to the valour of the four ‘Sahibzadas’ of Sikh spiritual leader Guru Gobind Singh who attained martyrdom in the 17th Century. Out of the four ‘Sahibzadas’,  Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh are specially remembered for showing courage at a very little age, they were allegedly killed by the Mughals upon the then ruler Aurangzeb’s order.

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The UP Chief Minister took to Twitter and said, the holy sacrifice of the ‘Sahibzadas’ will inspire all of us to protect the nation and religion for ages.

“Millions of salutes to the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj on 'Veer Bal Diwas'! The holy sacrifice of Sahibzadas will inspire all of us to protect the nation and religion for ages,” CM Adityanath tweeted in Hindi (rough translation).

Prime Minisrter Narendra Modi also remembered the Sahibzadas. "On Veer Baal Diwas, we recall the courage of the Sahibzades and Mata Gujri Ji. We also remember the courage of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji," he tweeted. 

As per the recorded history, in 1704, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb captured Anandpur Sahib in present-day Punjab. Following that, the food stock started running out and the only option Sikhs had to get out of the situation was to give up the fortress of Anandpur. Guru Gobind Singh, to save the lives of his people, accepted the demands of the Mughals and decided to leave the town. Mughals, who were known for breaking their truce, did the same and went after them.

Mughals captured Guru Gobind Singh’s sons – Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh and took them Sirhind and presented them in front of Nawab Wazir Khan. Khan asked Zorawar and Fateh to convert to Islam and he will spare their lives. Both of them showed tremendous courage and did not agree with the demands.  Wazir Khan then sentenced them to death. Both Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were allegedly bricked alive.

The site where Guru Gobind Singh’s sons were bricked alive is today known as Fatehgarh Sahib. It is a sacred pilgrimage site of Sikhs.