CM Nayab Saini Greets Haryana on Bandi Chhor Divas
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted bilingual Bandi Chhor Divas greetings in Hindi and Punjabi on 8 November 2026, acknowledging the Sikh festival that commemorates Guru Hargobind's release from Mughal captivity.
Key Takeaways
Nayab Singh Saini , Chief Minister of Haryana, extended greetings on Bandi Chhor Divas on 8 November 2026 .
The message was posted in both Hindi and Punjabi (Gurmukhi script) , reflecting linguistic outreach to the state's Sikh community.
Bandi Chhor Divas marks the release of Guru Hargobind , the sixth Sikh Guru, from Mughal imprisonment under Emperor Jahangir.
The festival is observed with lamp-lighting and prayers, coinciding with the Diwali period each year.
Haryana shares borders with Punjab and has districts with notable Sikh populations, making the greeting politically and culturally significant.
On the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini extended warm greetings to the Sikh community across the state on Sunday, 8 November 2026, posting a bilingual message in Hindi and Punjabi on X.
Saini's message — 'Bandi Chhor Divas ki samast sangat ko lakh-lakh badhai' ('A hundred thousand congratulations to the entire congregation on Bandi Chhor Divas') — was offered in both Hindi and Gurmukhi script, a deliberate gesture of linguistic inclusion toward Haryana's Punjabi-speaking Sikh population.
The Day That Marks a Guru's Freedom
Bandi Chhor Divas — literally 'the day of the prisoner's release' — commemorates the liberation of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, from Mughal imprisonment under Emperor Jahangir. Observed with the lighting of lamps and community prayers, the festival falls around the time of Diwali each year, when Sikhs illuminate their homes and gurdwaras in celebration of the Guru's return to Amritsar.
Bilingual Outreach to a Border-State Community
Haryana shares a long border with Punjab and maintains districts with significant Sikh populations. Chief ministers across Indian states routinely mark religious occasions in the languages of the communities they address — and Saini's choice to post in both Hindi and Punjabi signals that outreach directly. The accompanying video underscores the message's ceremonial intent.
For Haryana's Sikh sangat, the greeting from their Chief Minister on one of the community's most spiritually resonant days carries a straightforward warmth — and the tradition of remembering a Guru who walked out of a fortress, refusing to leave without the 52 princes imprisoned alongside him, endures as a lesson in dignity that transcends the calendar.
Point of View
And Saini's choice of Gurmukhi alongside Hindi is a deliberate signal to Haryana's Sikh constituencies near the Punjab border. For a BJP-led government, maintaining warm ties with the Sikh community carries both cultural and electoral weight, particularly given the community's historical significance to the region. The reference to Bandi Chhor Divas — rooted in a story of principled solidarity rather than individual gain — also allows leaders to associate themselves with values beyond routine governance. The post is ceremonial in nature but fits a broader pattern of BJP state leaders investing in inclusive, multi-community outreach via social media.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bandi Chhor Divas?
Bandi Chhor Divas is a Sikh festival commemorating the release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, from Mughal imprisonment under Emperor Jahangir. It is observed with lamp-lighting and prayers around the time of Diwali.
Why is Bandi Chhor Divas significant for Sikhs?
The day honours Guru Hargobind's refusal to leave Mughal captivity alone — he secured the release of 52 fellow princes before departing, making his return to Amritsar a symbol of solidarity and moral courage.
What did Haryana CM Nayab Saini post on Bandi Chhor Divas 2026?
On 8 November 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted bilingual greetings in Hindi and Punjabi on X, wishing the entire Sikh congregation 'lakh-lakh badhai' (a hundred thousand congratulations) on the occasion.
Does Haryana have a significant Sikh population?
Yes, Haryana shares a long border with Punjab and several of its districts have notable Sikh populations, making the community an important part of the state's social and electoral fabric.
When does Bandi Chhor Divas fall each year?
Bandi Chhor Divas is observed around the time of Diwali each year, with the exact date determined by the Sikh lunar calendar.
