08 NOV 2026
Bandi Chhor Divas at the Golden Temple
Photo: Manpreet Singh Dhillon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sikh observance at Sri Harmandir Sahib on 8 November: lights, kirtan and langar on the night that coincides with Diwali.
Bandi Chhor Divas (also written Bandi Chor Divas) is a Sikh observance that falls on the same night as Diwali. It marks the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib from Gwalior Fort and, in Sikh tradition, the freeing of 52 other prisoners with him. The name means the day of the liberation of captives.
In 2026 it falls on Sunday 8 November. The main place travellers experience it is Sri Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar. The complex is lit for the occasion. Devotees gather for kirtan, visit the sarovar, and share langar. Crowds are heavy through the evening and night.
This is not the same as Hindu Diwali. The calendar date often lines up, but the meaning and the focus at Harmandir Sahib are specifically Sikh. Dress modestly, cover your head, and remove shoes before entering the complex. Security checks are strict; travel light.
Entry to the Golden Temple is free. There is no ticket for Bandi Chhor Divas itself. Stay nearby if you can, or arrive early and expect long queues and packed streets around the heritage zone.
Bandi Chhor Divas (also written Bandi Chor Divas) is a Sikh observance that falls on the same night as Diwali. It marks the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib from Gwalior Fort and, in Sikh tradition, the freeing of 52 other prisoners with him. The name means the day of the liberation of captives.
In 2026 it falls on Sunday 8 November. The main place travellers experience it is Sri Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar. The complex is lit for the occasion. Devotees gather for kirtan, visit the sarovar, and share langar. Crowds are heavy through the evening and night.
This is not the same as Hindu Diwali. The calendar date often lines up, but the meaning and the focus at Harmandir Sahib are specifically Sikh. Dress modestly, cover your head, and remove shoes before entering the complex. Security checks are strict; travel light.
Entry to the Golden Temple is free. There is no ticket for Bandi Chhor Divas itself. Stay nearby if you can, or arrive early and expect long queues and packed streets around the heritage zone.
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