Dhan Dhan Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed

Dhan Dhan Baba Deep Singh

DMn DMn bwbw dIp isMG jI

Dhan Dhan Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed
1682-1757

Baba ji was born in 1682 and attained shaheedi in 1757

Father: Bhaghtu

Mother: Jioni

Village: Pahuvind, Amritsar

1709 - Joined Baba Banda Singh Bahadur during assaults on the towns of Sadhaura and Sirhind.

1748 -  Assigned to lead Shaheedan Misl (One of 12 groups/divisions) established at meeting of Sarbat Khalsa in Amritsar. 65 Jathas of Dal Khalsa were reorganized at this meeting.

1757 – Fought forces of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Afghan Ruler who held many captives and looted booty from Northern India. Baba ji was deployed near Kurukshetra and his group freed a large number of captives and recovered the booty.

-       On his return to Lahore, Durrani, ordered demolition of Harimandir sahib which was blown up and desecrated.

-       Durrani assigned Prince Timur Shah to control Punjab and left him 10,000 men strong army

-       Baba Deep Singh Fought the vast army with the help of villagers and the Afghan army fleed terrified

During this fight Babaji’s got decapitated. Upon remembering his vow to drop his head at Darbar Sahib, Sachkhand Harimandir Sahib, Baba ji lifted his head on his left hand and kept fighting the Afghan forces with double edged sword. Upon reaching Sachkhand, he laid his head to rest and fulfilled his vow.

Shouldst thou wish to play the game of love,
come unto my Path with thy head on thy palm.
And, once you step unto this path,
You may well give up thy head, rather than the cause

jo qE pyRm KylHx kw cwE

isr Dir glI myrI AwE

ieiq mwrg pYr DrIzy

isr dIzy kwx nw dIzy

(swD sMgq jI, A~KHr vwDw Bulcu~k mw& krnw jI[ jy ies lyK ivc koeI qru~tI hY qW dws nUM ds dyxw jI, qurMq TIk kr id~qI jwvygI[)

What and Why of Lohri Festival? An Important day in the lives of Punjabis

Lohri marks the culmination of winter, and is celebrated on the 13th day of January in the month of Paush or Magh, a day before Makar Sankranti. For Punjabis, more than just a festival, Lohri is also an example of a way of life. Lohri celebrates fertility and the spark of life. People gather around the bonfires, throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames, sing popular songs and exchange greetings.

On this day children go from door to door to collect funds for community bonfires which are lit up in the evening. The gatherings and celebrations make Lohri a community festival.

An extremely auspicious day, Lohri marks the sun's entry in to the 'Makar Rashi' (Northern Hemisphere). The period, beginning from 14 January lasting till 14 July, is known as Uttarayan. It is also the last day of the month of Maargazhi, the ninth month of the lunar calendar. The Bhagawad Gita deems it an extremely sacred and auspicious time, when Lord Krishna manifests himself most tangibly. And so, across India, people celebrate the month and the prodigious harvest it brings - Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and the Sankranti inKarnataka, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.


The focus of Lohri is on the bonfire. The traditional dinner with makki ki roti (Maize Flour Pitas) and sarson ka saag (Rapini curry) is quintessential. The prasad comprises of six main things: til, gazak, gur, moongphali, phuliya and popcorn. There is puja, involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. This symbolises a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and prosperity.

The first Lohri of a newly wed bride and a new born child is considered very auspicious and important.

The Lohri has one commonality with American festival of Halloween in that there kids go out to collect goodies from neighbors.