Veer Baal Diwas held at Indian Consulate in New York

December 28, 2022

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The Indian Consulate in New York held Veer Baal Diwas Dec. 26, 2022. The highlight was an exhibit on the history of the courage and sacrifice of Sahibzade Baba
Fateh Singh and Baba Zorawar Singh – the sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji,
the 10th Guru of Sikhs. Photo: Facebook @IndiaInNewYork

The Consulate General of India, New York, marked Veer Bal Diwas on December 26, 2022 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The Day was celebrated to pay homage to the courage and sacrifice of Sahibzade Baba Fateh Singh and Baba Zorawar Singh – the sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10 th Guru of Sikhs.

An exhibition narrating the story of the sacrifice was on display.

It was on 26 December in 1704 that the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh ji, then aged 7 and 9 years, achieved martyrdom. They were captured and produced before the Nawab of Sirhind who gave them the option to either convert to Islam or face death.

The Sahibzades chose to die in honor. This unparalleled sacrifice of young Baba Fateh Singh and Baba Zorawar Singh occupies a place of great pride and honor in Sikh history and remains an everlasting source of inspiration for all Indians, a press release from the Indian Consulate noted.

Earlier in the year on January 9, 2022, on the occasion of the Prakash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh ji, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the nation would henceforth mark Veer Bal Diwas on 26th December each year.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Consul General Randhir Jaiswal explained the significance of the day. He underlined the importance of keeping alive historical memories of struggle. Members of the diaspora

participated in the exhibition and several prominent members of the Sikh community addressed the gathering. Participation of children was particularly encouraging, the press release said.

Members of the Indian American community at the Dec. 26, 2022, exhibition on Veer Baal Diwas day at the Indian Consulate in New York. Photo: Facebook @IndiaInNewYork

A number of community organizations and Gurdwaras expressed interest in displaying the exhibits in their premises in the coming weeks. Earlier, on December 23, 2022, Consul General Jaiswal, in an interview on ITV Gold and Heramb Studio, explained the history and significance of the Day. On December 24, he appeared in Punjabi language programme ‘Ji Aayan Nu’ on Radio Zindagi, and encouraged members of diaspora to participate in the exhibition in the Consulate.