After the long Dussehra and Diwali holidays finished, life picked up again – but something major is already coming soon. By November, many across India will honor Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's Balidaan Divas with heartfelt respect. Places such as UP, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, along with Uttarakhand have made it an official day off, paying tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji - the ninth head of Sikhs - who stood firm for religious freedom and dignity. As a result on November 24th, schools, banks, and government offices in these areas will stay closed, allowing time for calm thought.
Uttrakhand is preparing for the grand occasion on November 17th, Governor Gurmit Singh attended an event in Dehradun titled, "Hind Ki Chadar; A Supreme Saga Of Sacrifice" to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
In Uttar Pradesh, all schools plus colleges - public or private - will close so students and staff can attend prayers or kirtans at nearby Gurudwaras. Across India, these places of worship are holding special devotionals, handing out free food, while also chanting hymns to mark the occasion. Since Sri Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom falls on a Monday this year, it connects with Sundays off in November, giving folks a bit more break right after the weekend.
Meanwhile, Punjab chose to mark Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji's sacrifice as a public holiday on November 25th. Punjab state is preparing collectively to celebrate the significant day with community groups are organizing art displays, musical events, or large meetings in Anandpur Sahib - to reflect how deeply people there connect with this occasion.
Even if many spots observe the date in November, Punjab marks it apart that month through large state-supported gatherings. With these arrangements, India along with Punjab can acknowledge Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji’s influence in a genuine, reflective manner.