CHAMKAUR SAHIB, India, Dec 21 — Nagar Kirtans from Anandpur Sahib and nearby villages marked the opening of the annual Shaheedi Jod Mela at Chamkaur Sahib on Sunday, recreating key moments from the final journey of Guru Gobind Singh and his family in 1704.
A major procession departed early morning from Anandpur Sahib, commemorating the night Guru Gobind Singh, accompanied by his family and Sikhs, was forced to leave the besieged town. The Nagar Kirtan carried the Guru Granth Sahib through villages before reaching Chamkaur Sahib, where it was received by gurdwara authorities and devotees.
“Following this path makes history feel present,” said Baljit Kaur, a devotee from Doaba. “It reminds us of the courage shown during one of the darkest moments for the Panth.”
Another Nagar Kirtan began from Gurdwara Pariwar Vichora Sahib, the site associated with the separation of Guru Gobind Singh’s family. According to Sikh tradition, Guru Gobind Singh crossed the Sirsa river with Baba Ajit Singh, Baba Jujhar Singh and a small group of Sikhs, while Mata Gujri and the younger Sahibzadas moved in another direction.
Early Sunday, 45 horse-mounted Sikhs symbolically crossed the Sirsa river to reenact the historic crossing, drawing large crowds along the banks.
The processions coincided with the start of the three-day Shaheedi Jod Mela, which commemorates the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas and the Singhs who fell during the Battle of Chamkaur while resisting Mughal forces.
Throughout the day, kirtan and dhadi vaaran echoed across the town, while langars organized by village groups offered free meals to pilgrims.
Security and traffic arrangements were overseen by the district administration, with police officials and volunteers stationed across Chamkaur Sahib.
The mela will continue through Dec. 22, with continuous religious programs expected to attract large numbers of devotees paying tribute to the sacrifices that shaped Sikh history.
