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New Delhi: The Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru in the lineage of Sikh saints, is observed every year on November 24. Also known as Hind ki Chadar or Shield of India, he was born in Amritsar on April 1, 1621. Today, his sacrifices have left a trail on the geographical map of India, reminding us of his unshakable faith and sacrifice. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom not only lives on a page in Sikh history, but it also lives in stone, streets, and in Delhi’s two gurudwaras.

To celebrate Guru Tegh Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas every year, devotees in thousands pay reverence and remember a leader who opted for death rather than remaining silent, protecting religious freedom for all, Hind di Chadar, the shield of India. Let’s take a look at places related to his sacrifice and journey on this auspicious day.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s legacy in India 1. Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Delhi

This is the place in Chandni Chowk where he was beheaded on November 24, 1675. The execution took place on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, after refusing to convert and defending the religious rights of Kashmiri Pandits. Here, many things are preserved with reverence, such as the well from which water was drawn for the Guru’s bath before execution, and the tree trunk where he was tied. His beheading site is honoured as the holiest point in the complex.

2. Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, Delhi

The Guru’s body was left in Chandni Chowk to stop cremation after the execution. But with enormous courage and devotion, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s disciple Lakhi Shah Vanjara set his entire house ablaze to cremate the body respectfully and avoid attention. That house is located where Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib stands today, opposite the Parliament complex.

3. Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

The city he founded on land bought from Rani Champa of Bilaspur.

4. Patna, Bihar

The birthplace of his son and the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, while the Guru was away in Assam.

5. Dhubri, Assam

A site near the Brahmaputra River where he reflected about conflicts and where the Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib now stands.

6. Amritsar, Punjab

He visited the city, which holds special significance as the birthplace of the Sikh Gurus.

The sites related to Guru Teg Bahadur hold significance as these places remind us of his martyrdom, his life, and his journeys. On this day, let’s follow his messages of religious freedom and righteousness, which unite people of every faith.