Which Sikh Guru was imprisoned in Gwalior Fort and released with 52 princes?

Guru Hargobind was the Sikh Guru imprisoned in Gwalior Fort and released with 52 princes. Mughal emperor Jahangir ordered his detention, probably around 1617, although historians debate the precise date and reasons.

The episode is remembered in Sikh tradition as Bandi Chhor Divas, meaning “Day of Liberation.” According to the traditional account, Guru Hargobind agreed to leave only if the imprisoned princes could depart with him. The fort’s ruler allowed as many princes to follow as could hold onto the Guru’s specially made cloak.

Guru Hargobind’s release is commemorated during the same period as Diwali, especially at the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Bandi Chhor Divas is therefore a distinct Sikh observance, although it coincides with the wider South Asian festival season.

Guru Hargobind was the sixth human Sikh Guru. He developed the idea of combining spiritual and temporal authority, represented by the two swords of miri and piri, and established the Akal Takht in Amritsar.