Today, October 17th, is Dusshera which is when Sri Ram Chandar Ji destroyed the demon Ravan. The day is celebrated throughout India even at Sikh shrines such as Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Paonta Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib along with Gurdrawas associated with Nihung Singh's, Udasi's, and Nirmala's. Prior to Dusshera there is a nine day celebration called Naurate which various forms of Shakti [Primordial Energy] are worshiped. According to the Ramayana, Ram Chandar worshiped the various forms of Shakti for nine days before destroying Ravan. For more information on Naurate in the Sikh context please visit: http://www.manglacharan.com/2009/10/worshiping-weapons-passage-from-suraj.html
For more information on Dusshera please visit: http://www.manglacharan.com/2010/05/dussherra-importance-in-sikhism.html

To listen to katha of the importance of Dusshera by Giani Baba Inderjit Singh Ji, student of Baba Gurbachan Singh Bhindranvale, press the play button below.





Below is a passage from Gurbilas Patshahi 10, a historical book written in 1751 CE by Kuer Singh mainly dealing with the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This is one of the most earliest and detailed writtings dealing with the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.


"ਆਜ ਨੁਰਾਤਾ ਆਦਿ ਨਿਹਾਰੋ । ਪੂਜ ਕਰੋ ਸਬ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਨਿਕਾਰੋ " ॥੧੩॥
[Guru Gobind Singh Ji stated] "Observe the first day of Nurate, worship and take out all of your weapons."

ਸੁਨ ਕਰ ਬਚਨ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਧਾਯੋ । ਪੂਜਨ ਕੀ ਸਭ ਸੌਜ ਲਿਆਯੋ ।
Listening to the words [of the Guru] the Khalsa ran to bring back weapons and do worship of them.

ਪਹਿਰ ਰਾਤ ਲੇ ਤੇ ਸਭ ਜਾਗੇ । ਪੂਜ ਕਾਲਿਕਾ ਕੀ ਮਧ ਲਾਗੇ ॥੧੪॥
In the last period of the night they [the Khalsa]awoke, and started to worship Kalika.

ਸਭ ਜਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕੇਸ ਗੜ੍ਹ ਆਵੈ । ਧੂਪ ਦੀਪ ਨੈਬੇਦ ਕਰਾਵੈ ।
All the [Guru's] servants came to [Takht] Kesgarh Sahib, and lit incense, lamps and offered food
[towards Kalika].

ਪਾਛੈ ਅੱਛੁਤ ਪੁਸਪ ਮੰਗਾਵੈ । ਕਰ ਚਰਨਾਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਚਮਰ ਝੁਲਾਵੈ ॥੧੫॥
After they would offer rice and flowers toward Kalika, taking the Amrit from the Feet of the Guru and waving the wisk [over the weapons].

ਦੇਵਿ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਖ ਗਾਵੈ । ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੈ ਮੋਦ ਮਨ ਭਾਵੈ ।
The stories of the Devi were recited from the Guru's mouth, reading the praises [of the Devi] everyone's mind was left in bliss.

ਨਵਿਨ ਨੁਰਾਤਨ ਪੂਜਨ ਧਾਰੀ । ਪੁਨਹਿ ਦਸਹਿਰਾ ਆਯੋ ਭਾਰੀ ॥੧੬॥
On the ninth day of Naurate the worship continued, then came the [tenth day] Dusshera.

...

ਸਭ ਸਿਲ ਖਾਨਾ ਛੋਰ ਮੰਗਾਯੋ । ਉੱਚ ਤਖਤ ਕੁਰਸੀਨ ਧਰਾਯੋ ।
All of the weapons were gathered and placed on high platforms.

ਗਿਰਦੇ ਚਮਰ ਧੂਪ ਨਰ ਕਰਹੀ । ਜੈ ਜਗ ਮਾਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਮੁਖ ਰਰਈ ॥੫॥੧੭॥
All around whisks were being waved and incense was being lit, "Jai Jag Maat" [Victory to the Mother of the World] was being recited from everyone's mouth.

ਅੜਿਲੁ ।
ਰਾਮਾਯਨ ਕਲ ਪਾਠ ਸਭਨ ਮੁਖ ਗਾਇਯੋ ।
[On Dusshera] the beautiful Ramayana text was recited from everyone's mouth.

ਅਜਾ ਸੂਨ ਜਮ ਬਾਹਨ ਭੇਟ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਇਯੋ ।
[During the celebrations] goat's and buffalo's were being sacrificed.

ਦੁੰਦਭਿ ਔਰ ਨੀਸਾਨ ਸੁ ਪੂਜ ਕਰਾਯ ਕੈ ।
The battle drums and battle standards were also being worshiped during this time.

The following passage is from 'Gurbani Paat Darpan' written by Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranvale. Baba Ji is explaining two forms of vidiya [science/learning], the first being for show and the second being the real vidiya. Baba Ji uses the example of one performing exhibition Gatka as the false vidiya, whereas the real soorma [warrior] vidiya is where there is no show/exhitibtion.

From Gurbani Paat Darpan, page 37-38.

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ਵਿਦਿੱਆ ਦੋ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ।
There are two forms of 'Vidiya' [science]
(੧) ਇਕ ਤਾਂ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਪਟੇ ਬਾਜ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ੳਹ ਦਿਖਾਵੇ ਦੀ ਵਿੱਦਿਆ ਪੜ੍ਹਦੇ ਹਨ, ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਕਰਤੱਬ ਦਿਖਾਉਣਾ, ਕਿਸੇ ਦੇ ਮੂੰਹ 'ਤੇ, ਛਾਤੀ, ਪੱਟ ਆਦਿਕ ਤੇ ਆਲੂ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਅੱਖਾ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਬੰਨ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਖੂਬੀ ਇਹੋ ਹੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਹੜੀ ਚੀਜ ਉਪਰ ਪਈ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਆਲੂ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਗਾਜਰ, ਜਾਂ ਮੂਲੀ ਪਈ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੱਟ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਰੋਮ ਨੂੰ ਛੇਦਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ । ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ੳਹ ਕਰਤੱਬ ਦਿਖਾ ਕੇ ਹੁਨਰ ਕਰਕੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖੁਸ਼ ਕਰਕੇ, ਆਪ ਦਾ ਪੇਟ ਤੋਰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਪਟੇ ਬਾਜ ਦੀ ਵਿੱਦਿਆ ਹੈ ।
The first is called Pate Baaz [swinging a stick], that form is done for show, and to display their performance, placing potatos on someones face, chest, back etc and covering their eyes, that is their skills. Whatever is placed on top [of someone], whether it is potatos, carrots, or radish, they cut that without cutting that person. This form [of vidiya] is done to show their own performance and accomplishment in order to make the viewers happy and to fill their own belly's [acquiring money for it], this is the 'vidiya' [science/learning] of Pate Baaz [one who just spins a stick, i.e. Gatka Baaj].

ਏਸੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਪੰਡਤ ਵਿਦਵਾਨ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਥਾ ਸੁਣਾ ਕੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਕਰਕੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਜਸ ਪਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਆਪ ੳਹ ਧਾਰਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ, ਵਡਿਆਈ ਪਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਪਦਾਰਥ ਪਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਪਰ ਆਪ ਧਾਰਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦੇ, ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵਾਸਤੇ ੳਹ ਗਿਆਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾ ਸੁਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ । ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਟੇ ਬਾਜਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ ਵਿੱਦਿਆ ਹੈ ।
[Similar to this] form is a one who becomes a Pandit scholar who performs discourse as preaching to get people to praise him, yet he himself cannot enshrine [what he preaches], he gets them to praise them, and gets material wealth, but he himself cannot attain what he preaches, and still for people preaches sermons of wisdom. That type of vidiya [science/learning] is like that of the Pate Baaj [one who just spins a stick, i.e. Gatka Baaj].
(੨) ਦੂਸਰੀ ਸੂਰਮਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਵਿੱਦਿਆ ਹੈ, ਸੂਰਮਾ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਜੋ ਹੈ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਹਿਨ ਕੇ ਜੰਗ ਵਿਚ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਾਂ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਕਰਕੇ ਜਿੱਤ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਾਂ ਆਪ ਜੂਝ ਕੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀ ਪਾਉਂਦੇ ਹੈ ।
The second type of Vidiya [science/learning] is that of a warrior, a courageous warrior adorns weapons and goes to war, giving the enemies martyrdom and attaining victory, or getting martyrdom themselves.
ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਸੂਰਮਿਆਂ ਵਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਵਿੱਦਿਆ ਹੈ । ਸੂਰਮਾ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਾਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਪਟੇ ਬਾਜ ਕੇਵਲ ਦਿਖਾਵਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਤਲੀ ਚੀਜ ਨੂੰ ਤੋੜਦਾ ਹੈ, ਹੇਠਾਂ ਅੰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਗਣ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਅਤੇ ਸੂਰਮਾ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਅੰਗਾ ਨੂੰ ਛੇਦਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਸਰੂਪ ਸਾਖਿਆਤ ਰੂਪ ਅਨੰਦ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਉਂਦੇ ਹੈ ।
In this way the way of the warrior is like Brahm Vidiya. A warrior kills with his weapons, where as a Pate Baaj [one who just spins a stick, i.e. Gatka Baaj] merely only does a exhibition, they only break the top [item] and do not hit any limbs. A [real] warrior breaks all the limbs of ignorance and attains great bliss while living in the visible [sargun] form. -----------------------------------------------------------------


The teachings of Real Shastar Vidiya are essential to learn as a Singh. As Giani Gian Singh Ji writes in his Naveen Panth Prakash, page 1571, Vol. 3:

ਸਿਖ੍ਯਾ ਜੰਗ ਕਰਨ ਕੀ ਦੱਈਏ । ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਮ ਇਨਿ ਕੇ ਰਖਵੱਈਏ ।
Give the teachings of how to wage war, in this way you shall retain the name Singh.

The nine nights of Naurate, [Navratri, a festival of worship directed to the various forms of Shakti], start this year on October 7th, and go to the 16th. The tenth day, which is October 17th, will be Dusshera, marking the date when Sri Ram Chandra Ji destroyed the Demon King Ravan. Celebrations for Dusshera happen at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Paonta Sahib, and Chamkaur Sahib.

The tradition for Navratari in the Sikh context has been outlined in the following passage from Suraj Prakash Granth where Guru Gobind Singh Ji commands his Singhs to conduct the seva [selfless service] and worship towards can be viewed here: http://www.manglacharan.com/2009/10/worshiping-weapons-passage-from-suraj.html

To listen to katha about Dusshera please view this link: http://www.manglacharan.com/2010/05/dussherra-importance-in-sikhism.html