Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Wishes Bandi Chhor Diwas
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab, on behalf of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, extended official greetings for Bandi Chhor Diwas on 8 November 2026, marking the Sikh festival that commemorates Guru Hargobind Sahib's liberation from Gwalior Fort alongside 52 prisoners.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab posted official Bandi Chhor Diwas greetings on 8 November 2026 .
The message was issued on behalf of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.
Bandi Chhor Diwas marks the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji from Gwalior Fort , along with 52 fellow prisoners .
The festival coincides with Diwali and is observed with illuminations and processions across Punjab.
Issuing formal greetings on major Sikh occasions is a long-standing practice of successive Punjab governments.
On a morning when Sikh households across Punjab light lamps and remember an extraordinary act of liberation, the Chief Minister's Office of Punjab extended greetings to mark Bandi Chhor Diwas on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
The official message, posted in Punjabi, reads: 'ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਾਨ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਵਾਲੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਆਪ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਲੱਖ-ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ' — 'The Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann wishes everyone a heartfelt congratulations on Bandi Chhor Diwas.'
The story behind the festival — and why it matters
Bandi Chhor Diwas, literally 'Day of the Prisoner's Liberation', commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, from Gwalior Fort — where he had been imprisoned by the Mughal emperor Jahangir. The Guru secured the release of 52 fellow prisoners, Hindu rulers who had been held alongside him, insisting they be freed as a condition of his own departure. That act of principled solidarity is at the heart of why the day is observed with such intensity. The festival coincides with Diwali on the Hindu calendar, and in Punjab the two celebrations merge into one brilliant season of illumination — gurudwaras, homes, and civic spaces lit up in celebration. Processions and kirtan programmes mark the occasion across the state.Official greetings as a tradition in Punjab's political calendar
For successive Punjab governments, extending formal greetings on Bandi Chhor Diwas has been standard practice — an acknowledgement of the festival's centrality to the state's cultural and religious identity. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who leads the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab since March 2022, has continued this tradition through the CMO's official channels. With the Sikh community forming the demographic and cultural bedrock of Punjab, the occasion carries weight well beyond ceremony — it is a moment the state's administration is expected to mark publicly and respectfully.Point of View
Bandi Chhor Diwas greetings are as much political as they are cultural — the Sikh community's festival calendar is inseparable from the state's electoral arithmetic. The AAP government under Bhagwant Mann, which swept to power in 2022 on strong support from Punjab's Sikh heartland, has consistently used official channels to reinforce its cultural alignment with the community. The gesture is routine, but its regularity is itself the message: that the government sees itself as a steward of Punjab's distinct religious identity. As the AAP consolidates its position in the state, maintaining visible presence on occasions like Bandi Chhor Diwas keeps the symbolic compact with voters intact.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bandi Chhor Diwas?
Bandi Chhor Diwas is a Sikh festival marking the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, from Gwalior Fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The Guru secured freedom for 52 fellow prisoners alongside himself, and the day is observed with prayers, illuminations, and processions, usually coinciding with Diwali.
Why does Bandi Chhor Diwas coincide with Diwali?
Bandi Chhor Diwas falls on the same day as Diwali in the Hindu calendar, as Guru Hargobind Sahib's return to Amritsar reportedly coincided with the Diwali celebrations of that era. This historical overlap means Punjab marks both occasions simultaneously with widespread lighting and community gatherings.
Who is Bhagwant Singh Mann?
Bhagwant Singh Mann is the Chief Minister of Punjab and the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in the state. He assumed office in March 2022 after the AAP won a landslide victory in the Punjab assembly elections.
Why does the Punjab government issue official greetings on Sikh festivals?
Punjab governments across political parties have traditionally extended official greetings on major Sikh occasions given the community's central role in the state's cultural and demographic identity. It is a standard practice of the Chief Minister's Office to mark such festivals through formal communications.
What is the significance of the 52 prisoners in Bandi Chhor Diwas?
When Mughal Emperor Jahangir agreed to release Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the Guru insisted that 52 Hindu rulers imprisoned in Gwalior Fort be freed simultaneously. He reportedly wore a cloak with 52 cords so each prisoner could hold on and walk out with him, symbolising his refusal to accept freedom alone.
