About Veer Bal Diwas ( UPSC)

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Context: Every December, Sikhs mark the supreme sacrifice made by the children and mother of the 10th Guru, Gobind Singh ji. Shaheedi Jor Mela or Shaheedi Sabha is observed at Fatehgarh Sahib. In January this year, the Centre announced that December 26 would be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ to mark the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh (7).

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The two Sahibzade were killed in 1704, in events sparked by the attack on Anandpur Sahib by the armies of the Mughals and the hill kings of present-day Himachal Pradesh.
Guru Gobind Singh’s mother Mata Gujari Ji, and two other sons, Sahibzaada Ajit Singh Ji and Sahibzaada Jujhar Singh Ji, were also martyred within a week.
Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th Sikh guru.
Also known for his significant contributions to the Sikh religion, including the introduction of the turban to cover hair.
He is renowned for founding the principles of Khalsa or the Five ‘K’s i.e kesh (uncut hair), kanga (wooden comb), kara (iron or steel bracelet), kirpan (dagger) and kachera (short breeches).
He fought against the Mughals later in the battle of Muktsar in 1705.
Guru Gobind Singh was killed by a Mughal assassin in 1708, a year after the death of Aurangzeb.
A few years later, Baba Banda Singh Bhadur avenged the execution of the Sahibzade, by attacking and capturing Sarhand.