BHAGAT RAVI DAS JI Bhagat Ravidas Ji (1377-1527) was born to Raghu Ji and Ghurbinia Ji at Seer Goverdhanpur in Varanasi (also known as Banaras), Uttar Pradesh. In his sacred memory, at his birthplace, Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir has been established. The picture of this Mandir is being given at the end of this write-up. Throughout the year his followers visit this Mandir to pay respect to him and especially on his birthday lacs of his followers visit this sacred place to pay their obeisance. 

The Sikh history of the 18th century is replete with the martyrdom of Sikhs at the hands of Afghan and Mughal rulers who invaded India which was at that time considered a 'sparrow of gold'. The primary aims of these invaders were to loot the people and convert them to Islam. These invaders generally returned to their home countries after amalgamating booty although they also established their rule in Punjab, Delhi and some other parts of India.

Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib (1630-1661) the seventh Guru of the Sikh faith was born on January 16, 1630 at Kiratpur Sahib in District Ropar of Punjab. He was the son of Baba Gurditta Ji (1613-1638) and grandson of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib (1595-1644) the sixth Guru of the Sikh faith. This year his birth anniversary is being celebrated on February 21 all over the world.

The background of this sixth invasion of Abdali is that on 14 January, 1761 in the historically famous Third Battle of Panipat, his army had badly defeated an approximately three lakh army of Marathas. According to Kanhaiya Lal's book written in Urdu language Tarikh-e-Punjab (1881), when after this victory Abdali was taking about 2200 Hindu Marathi unmarried girls along with him to Afghanistan, while he was crossing Sutlej, Sikhs got these girls released from his clutches and sent them to their respective parents.

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666-1708) the Tenth Master of the Sikhs, reverently known as 'Sarbans Danee' i.e. a person who sacrificed his 'sarbans' (whole family) to help the oppressed and protecting a person's right to profess the religion of his own choice.

vvThe martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, the two younger sons  of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the Tenth Master of the Sikhs, born to Mata Jito Ji, which took place on  December 12, 1705 is an unprecedented event and a major landmark in the history of Sikhs. Sahibzada  Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, born on 17 November 1696 and 25 February, 1699  respectively at Anandpur Sahib, District Ropar, Punjab, following the foot-steps of their paternal grandfather  Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the Ninth Sikh Guru sacrificed their lives for upholding a person's right to  freedom of religion. Because of the death of their mother Mata Jito Ji on 5 December, 1700 these two  children had been brought up by their paternal grandmother Mata Gujri Ji. 

vvThe martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, the two younger sons  of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the Tenth Master of the Sikhs, born to Mata Jito Ji, which took place on  December 12, 1705 is an unprecedented event and a major landmark in the history of Sikhs. Sahibzada  Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, born on 17 November 1696 and 25 February, 1699  respectively at Anandpur Sahib, District Ropar, Punjab, following the foot-steps of their paternal grandfather  Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the Ninth Sikh Guru sacrificed their lives for upholding a person's right to  freedom of religion. Because of the death of their mother Mata Jito Ji on 5 December, 1700 these two  children had been brought up by their paternal grandmother Mata Gujri Ji. 

  Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the ninth prophet-teacher of the Sikhs was  cruelly martyred by beheading him on November 11, 1675 in Chandni Chowk, Delhi  under the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb. Besides martyring Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur  Sahib, Aurangzeb also passed orders that the whole family of the person who goes  near the deceased's body will be annihilated. The martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh  Bahadur Sahib sent a wave of shock and mental torture among the Sikh community.

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the ninth prophet-teacher of the Sikhs was cruelly  martyred by beheading him on November 11, 1675 in Chandni Chowk, Delhi under the  orders of Emperor Aurangzeb. Besides martyring Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib,  Aurangzeb also passed orders that the whole family of the person who goes near the  deceased's body will be annihilated.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji the founder of the Sikh religion was born on April 15, 1469, at Rai Bhoi Ki Talvandi now named Nankana Sahib but by tradition, his birth anniversary is celebrated worldwide on the full-moon day in the month of Kartik, the eighth desi month which coincides with October-November. 

Bhai Bala Ji (1466-1544) son of Chandar Bhan Ji, born three years before Sri  Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539), the first Guru (prophet-teacher) of the Sikhs had the privilege of not only being his life-time companion but also serving as one of the major and most authentic sources of information about the life events of Sri Guru  Nanak Dev Ji. 

Before leaving for Deccan on Oct. 30, 1706, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji  assigned to Dip Singh Ji the duty of teaching the Sikh scriptures, disseminating Sikh  philosophy and training the Sikhs in the martial arts. Thus, Dip Singh Ji stayed  behind at Talvandi Sabo to serve at the  Gurdwara Damdama Sahib . At Talvandi  Sabo, as per the directions of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji he spent his time explaining  the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to Sikh  sangat . He also organised a Sikh  jatha  (fighting group) and trained the members of this  jatha  in martial arts.  

This year i.e. in 2023 Shaheed Bhai Taroo Singh Ji's 278 th  martyrdom day is being observed on July 16 all over the world. This gruesome incident took place 278 th  years ago. This brave and dauntless Sikh was born in a Sandhu Jatt family in Puhla village which at that time fell in District Kasur (now in Pakistan) but now falls in Distt.  Tarn Taran of Punjab. In his sacred memory at the place of his birth stands  Gurdwara   Sahib Shaheed Bhai Taroo Singh Ji . 

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji (1670-1716), a brave Sikh warrior and founder of the Sikh Rule in Punjab  was born on October 27, 1670 at Rajauri in Punchh District of Jammu and Kashmir. His early name was Lachhman Dev. His father Ram Dev Ji, a Rajput Farmer trained him in martial arts in early childhood. 

Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib (1595-1644) the Sixth Guru (prophet teacher) of the Sikhs was the only son of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the Fifth Guru of the Sikhs and Mata  Ganga Ji. He was born on Har Vadi 7, 1652 Bikrimi i.e. June 19, 1595, at Vadali (now called Vadali Guru) about 8 km from Amritsar. 

Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606), the Fifth Guru of the Sikhs was born on  Baisakh Vadi 7, 1620 Bikrimi i.e. April 15, 1563 at Goindwal Sahib, which now falls  in the present day Tarn Taran district of Punjab. He was the third and youngest son  of Bhai Jetha Ji who later named as Sri Guru Ram Das Ji became the Fourth Guru  of the Sikhs and Bibi (Lady) Bhani Ji, daughter of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, the Third  Guru of the Sikhs. 

Sri Guru Amar Das Ji was born on Baisakh Sudi 14, 1636 Bikrami i.e. May 5, 1479 at Basarke Gillan village, which is about 13 km   . south-west from Amritsar, in district Amritsar, Punjab. In his fond memory, in this village at his birth place Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Sri Guru Amar Das Ji has been established.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on Baisakh Vadi 1, Sammat 1561 Bikrami which corresponded with 31 March 1504. His father Bhai Pheru Ji also known as Bhai Pheru Mal Ji, a Trehan Khatri by caste lived in the village 'Matte Di Sarai', now known as 'Sarai Nanga' 16 km north-east of Muktsar, the district headquarter of the present day district Muktsar of Punjab.

Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606), the Fifth Guru of the Sikhs was born on   Baisakh Vadi  7, 1620  Bikrimi  i.e. April 15, 1563, at Goindwal Sahib, which now falls in the present day Tarn Taran district of Punjab. He was the third and youngest son of Bhai Jetha Ji who was later named Sri Guru Ram Das Ji became the Fourth Guru of the Sikhs and Bibi (Lady) Bhani Ji, daughter of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, the Third  Guru of the Sikhs. 

Baisakhi is celebrated on the first day of the solar month of Baisakh. It is termed as 'Baisakhi' because as per astrological calculations at this time the moon passes through Visakha nakshatra or the constellation of the Indian calendar. This festival falls when the farmers have just finished harvesting the wheat crop. In Sikh history, the celebration of Baisakhi can be traced back to the time of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji (1479- 1574), the Third Guru of the Sikhs i.e. more than 470 years.