Bandi Chhor Divas: A blog by Suhani

Happy Bandi Chhor Divas

Read this blog by Suhani, an undergraduate student at Warwick Law School:

Bandi Chhor Divas, which roughly means "Day of Liberation," is a Sikh festival that falls on the same day as Diwali. It remembers Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, who was imprisoned by a Mughal emperor over 400 years ago. When he was finally offered his freedom, he refused to leave unless the 52 kings held alongside him were freed too. The emperor agreed, but only if they could all hold on to the Guru's cloak as he walked out. So the Guru had a cloak made with 52 tassels, and every single one of them walked free.

When the Guru returned home to Amritsar, people lit lamps to welcome him back, and that's still how the day is celebrated now. Families light diyas and candles at home and at the gurdwara (a Sikh place of worship), listen to kirtan (devotional hymns), share sweets and sit down together for langar, a free meal served to anyone who walks through the door.

My first proper Bandi Chhor Divas was with a friend's family, who invited me to a gurdwara in our neighbourhood. I was a little nervous about getting something wrong, but within minutes I had a scarf on my head, my shoes neatly lined up at the door, and a plate in front of me that never seemed to get any emptier. My friend's aunty kept topping it up before I'd even finished, which, as anyone with an Indian aunty will know, is basically a love language. Before we left, I was handed karah prasad, a warm, sweet offering made from flour, butter and sugar.

At Warwick, Sikh students bring that same warmth to campus. Some head to the gurdwara with friends, others light candles in their flats and swap sweets with flatmates, and plenty invite friends who have never celebrated before (like I once was) to come along and join in. The Sikh Society is a big part of this. They are open to everyone, Sikh or not, and joke that you'll leave with something valuable besides the free food.

For me, what makes this festival so special is its message. The Guru could have walked out alone, but he refused to leave anyone behind. I love that idea, and I think it fits university life perfectly, especially if you are an international student trying to figure out your life away from home, sharing your notes with someone who missed a lecture, checking in on a flatmate who's feeling homesick, or making sure nobody spends a festival evening on their own.

Happy Bandi Chhor Divas, everyone!