On the solemn occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Jyoti Jot Diwas — the day marking the passing of the tenth Sikh Guru — Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta offered her reverence on Saturday, 14 November 2026, invoking the Guru's timeless call of 'Sarbat da Bhala' (wellbeing of all) as a guiding light for the capital.

In her message posted in Hindi, CM Gupta described Guru Gobind Singh as a symbol of tyag, tapasya aur adamya shaurya — sacrifice, penance, and indomitable valour — who devoted everything in defence of dharma. She wrote that the Guru taught humanity that true religion means becoming a support for the weak, standing firm against injustice, and living for the welfare of all.

Closing with the Sikh salutation — 'Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh' — the Chief Minister expressed hope that the Guru's sacred message would continuously strengthen the spirit of service, equality, and harmony in Delhi.

Who was Guru Gobind Singh and why does Jyoti Jot Diwas matter

Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666–1708) was the tenth and last living Sikh Guru, one of the most towering figures in Indian religious and military history. In 1699, he founded the Khalsa — the community of initiated Sikhs — establishing a tradition that bound spiritual discipline to the defence of the vulnerable. His entire family sacrificed their lives resisting Mughal tyranny, earning him the title Dasmesh Pita, father of the tenth.

Jyoti Jot Diwas marks the anniversary of his passing, observed each year by Sikhs and devotees at gurdwaras across Delhi and the country with prayers, kirtan, and community service. The concept of Sarbat da Bhala — a phrase embedded in the Ardas, the Sikh daily prayer — translates as a collective prayer for the good of all humanity, cutting across caste, faith, and status.

Delhi's Sikh community and the politics of remembrance

Delhi is home to one of the largest urban Sikh populations in India, with landmark gurdwaras including Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib serving as focal points for religious observance and community life. Political leaders across party lines regularly issue formal tributes on Sikh Guru anniversaries — a reflection of both the community's deep historical contribution to Indian nationhood and its significant electoral weight in the capital.

CM Gupta's invocation of Sarbat da Bhala as a framework for governance — linking it explicitly to 'service, equality, and harmony' in Delhi — follows a well-established pattern of connecting Guru Gobind Singh's philosophy to contemporary themes of inclusive administration. The Guru's teaching that strength must protect the weak, not dominate it, carries a resonance that leaders of all persuasions find politically and morally grounding.

On this Jyoti Jot Diwas, the question the Guru's legacy poses to every generation of leaders remains the same: not merely whether the salutation is offered, but whether the ideal of Sarbat da Bhala finds its way from prayer into policy.