Row erupts over fancy dress contest to mark Sahibzadas’ martyrdom

The state government’s announcement to organise Veer Bal Diwas programme, dedicated to the martyrdom day of the “Chhote Sahibzadas”, the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, has come under scanner.

The government directive, issued through the Punjab State Child Welfare Council for state-level Veer Bal Diwas 2025, instructs districts to organise a “fancy-dress competition” for children aged between five and eight.

The objection is over the fancy dress event wherein children are to dress up as “Chhote Sahibzaade”, Mata Gujri and other Sikh warriors, with district-level winners to be sent to the state-level event scheduled for December 12 in Ludhiana.

The other events which were part of the programme include skit competitions, shabad/bhajan gayan competition, declamation competition and poster-making competition.

The programme has invited the ire of the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parabandhak Committee (SGPC) and Sikh intellectuals.

The Akal Takht strictures demand a blanket ban on the depiction of Sikh gurus or their family members in any form — be it human, film, documentary or song by actors or its animated version.

Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj demanded that the programme should be cancelled.

Jathedar Gargaj said government representatives must have awareness that all forms of depiction or imitation of Sikh Gurus, their family members, the four Sahibzadas and Sikh martyrs was strictly prohibited, and those violating this principle would be liable to face legal action.

The jathedar further issued a stern warning to the Punjab Government, stating that no district or school in the state should conduct fancy-dress competitions. The government must respect Sikh sentiments, principles and terminology rather than imposing its own vocabulary on the Sikh community.

Earlier the Religious Advisory Committee of the SGPC had passed a resolution in 1934 that strictly prohibited the portrayal of Sikh Gurus and their family members. Similar resolutions were passed by the SGPC in 1940, 2003, 2015 and 2022.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said even the name “Veer Bal Diwas”, given by the Government of India, was never accepted.

The SGPC had recommended the government to approve the name “Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas” and issue a revised gazette notification in this regard in 2023, but in vain.

Meanwhile, Jathedar Gargaj asked all Sikh Members of Parliament (MPs) to raise the issue strongly in Parliament and press the Central government to change the name.

Former acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpret Singh said after commercialising the 350th ‘shaheedi’ of Guru Tegh Bahadur by outsourcing private companies, the state government was moving towards making a mockery of the sacredness of Mata Gujri and the Sahibzadas’ unparalleled martyrdom.

“The government should seek guidance, not from its political strategists but from Sikh scholars who understand Sikh principles,” he said.

Sikh intellectual Gurpreet Singh said taking into consideration the Sikh sentiments and tenets, the government should take an instant decision to exclude the fancy dress competition from the programme.