Bandi Chhor Divas marks release from which Mughal-controlled fort?

Bandi Chhor Divas marks Guru Hargobind’s release from Gwalior Fort. The Sikh celebration recalls the sixth Guru’s release from Mughal imprisonment and his efforts to secure the freedom of other detained rulers.

Mughal Emperor Jahangir imprisoned Guru Hargobind at Gwalior, traditionally dated to the early 17th century. Sikh accounts say the Guru would not leave unless the imprisoned Rajput hill rulers were released with him. The story describes a specially made cloak with 52 hems, allowing the rulers to hold on as they departed.

The fort is a historic hill fortress in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, rather than one of the better-known Mughal monuments in Agra, Lahore, or Delhi. Gurdwara Data Bandi Chhor Sahib stands within the fort complex and is associated with the Guru’s imprisonment.

Bandi Chhor Divas is often observed around the same time as Diwali, but it has a specifically Sikh emphasis on liberation, justice, and compassionate leadership. Celebrations include prayers, illumination, processions, devotional singing, fireworks, and langar.