What is the name of the 1762 massacre remembered in Sikh history as the Vadda Ghallughara?

The 1762 massacre is remembered in Sikh history as the Vadda Ghallughara.

Vadda Ghallughara, also spelled Vadda Ghalughara, means the “Great Massacre.” It refers to the large-scale killing of Sikh civilians and members of the Dal Khalsa by the forces of Ahmad Shah Durrani near Kup-Rohira in Punjab on 5 February 1762. Sikh historical accounts describe the event as one of the community’s most devastating losses.

The massacre occurred during repeated Afghan campaigns in Punjab. Sikh groups, including families traveling with the Sikh military confederacies, were attacked while attempting to move toward safer areas. Estimates of casualties vary substantially among historical sources, so a single figure should not be treated as certain.

Vadda Ghallughara is distinct from Chhota Ghallughara, or the “Lesser Massacre,” associated with the 1746 persecution of Sikhs. The two names are commonly confused because both describe major episodes of violence in 18th-century Sikh history.