Sikh History

November (Kartik Puranmashi)

Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhi, born at Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (Nankana Sahib).

May 5

Birth of Guru Amar Das Ji

Third Guru, founder of the langar institution and 22 manjis.

April 18

Birth of Guru Angad Dev Ji

Second Sikh Guru, formaliser of Gurmukhi script.

September 25

Birth of Guru Ram Das Ji

Fourth Guru, founder of Amritsar and composer of Lavan.

April 15

Birth of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Fifth Guru, compiler of Adi Granth, first Sikh shaheed.

Founding of Amritsar

Guru Ram Das Ji founded the city of Amritsar around the Amrit Sarovar.

Foundation of Harmandir Sahib

Foundation stone laid by Sai Mian Mir at the invitation of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

June 19

Birth of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji

Sixth Guru, introducer of Miri-Piri and the Akal Takht.

Installation of Adi Granth

Guru Arjan Dev Ji installed the Adi Granth in Harmandir Sahib with Baba Buddha Ji as the first Granthi.

May 30

Shaheedi of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Martyred under Emperor Jahangir at Lahore — first Sikh shaheed.

Construction of Akal Takht

Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji established the throne of timeless sovereignty.

April 1

Birth of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Ninth Guru, defender of religious freedom for all.

Battle of Amritsar

First major battle of the Sikhs — Guru Hargobind Ji defended Sikh sovereignty.

July 16

Birth of Guru Har Rai Ji

Seventh Guru, known for compassion and the healing gardens of Kiratpur.

July 7

Birth of Guru Har Krishan Ji

Eighth Guru, the child Guru — Baba Bakala.

December 22

Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Tenth Guru, founder of the Khalsa.

November 11

Shaheedi of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Martyred at Chandni Chowk, Delhi defending the right of Kashmiri Pandits to practice their faith.

April 13 (Vaisakhi)

Birth of the Khalsa

Guru Gobind Singh Ji initiated the Panj Pyare at Anandpur Sahib and created the Khalsa Panth.

Battle of Chamkaur Sahib

Guru Gobind Singh Ji and 40 Singhs faced a vast Mughal army — shaheedi of Sahibzade Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh.

Shaheedi of Chote Sahibzade

Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Fateh Singh (7) bricked alive at Sirhind under Wazir Khan.

October 7

Joti Jot of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Guru Gobind Singh Ji passed the Guruship to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Hazur Sahib, Nanded.

June 9

Shaheedi of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

Tortured and martyred at Delhi after establishing the first Sikh state.

Vadda Ghallughara

The 'Great Holocaust' — Ahmad Shah Abdali massacred ~30,000 Sikhs in a single day.

Sikh capture of Delhi

Sardar Baghel Singh led Sikh forces into Delhi and built gurdwaras at historic sites.

Coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Sikh Empire established with Lahore as its capital.

Annexation of Punjab

Fall of the Sikh Empire to the British East India Company after the Anglo-Sikh wars.

April 13

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

British troops fired on a peaceful Vaisakhi gathering at Amritsar.

Founding of the SGPC

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee formed to manage historical gurdwaras.

June

Saka of 1984 (Ghallughara)

Indian Army attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib and the Akal Takht — Operation Blue Star.