Veer Baal Diwas is commemmorated to honour the martyrdom of Baba Fateh Singh and Zorawar Singh, the Sahibzade of 10th Guru Govind Singh Ji on 26th December every year. Background On 9th January 2022, the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the Hon. Prime Minister had announced that 26th December would be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’, to mark the martyrdom of sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh - Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. About the young martyrs The youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji, Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji were born at Anandpur Sahib. On the morning of 7 December 1705, the day of the fateful battle of Chamkaur, Baba Zorawar Singh ji, along with Baba Fateh Singh ji and their grandmother, was taken into custody by Jani Khan and Mani Khan Ranghar, the officials at Morinda. They were dispatched on the following day to Sirhind where they were consigned to the Cold Tower (Thanda Burj) of the Fort. On 9 December 1705, Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh ji were produced before the faujdaar, Nawab Wazir Khan. He then threatened them with death, but they remained undaunted. Death sentence was finally pronounced. On 11 December 1705, they were ordered to be sealed alive in a wall. As the masonry around their tender bodies reached chest high, it crumbled. The Sahibzadas were sent to the Cold Tower again for the night. The next day, 12 December 1705, Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh ji were martyred by sealing alive in a wall. The site of the fateful happenings, since christened Fatehgarh Sahib, close to the old town of Sirhind, is now marked by four Sikh shrines. A religious fair is held here from 25 to 28 December every year to honour the memory of the martyrs. Source : (Reprint - adapted from Sikhiwiki article on the Sahibzadas) Celebrations To mark Veer Bal Diwas, the Government is organizing participatory programmes all over the country to inform and educate the citizens, especially young children, about the story of the exemplary courage of the Sahibzades. 2024 Veer Bal Diwas is even more special as it marks the 75th year of the establishment of the Indian Republic and our Constitution. 17 children who were conferred with Veer Baal awards in the fields of bravery, innovation, science and technology, sports and arts. Veer Baal Diwas is a nationwide celebration honouring children as the foundation of India’s future. ‘Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan’ programme was launched. The programme aims at improving the nutritional outcomes and well-being by strengthening implementation of nutrition related services and by ensuring active community participation. Various initiatives will also be run across the nation to engage young minds, promote awareness about the significance of the day, and foster a culture of courage and dedication to the nation. A series of online competitions, including interactive quizzes, will be organized through the MyGov and MyBharat Portals. Interesting activities like storytelling, creative writing, poster-making among others will be undertaken in schools, Child Care Institutions and Anganwadi centres.