Muktsar Saheb, Sikh Pilgrimage in India
The District of Mukatsar is situated in Punjab State of Northwestern
India. It is 2615 Sq. Km.in area. It is surrounded by District Faridkot
in the North, District Ferozepur in the West, District Bathinda in the
East and States of Rajasthan and Haryana in the South. The City of
Mukatsar is the headquarter of this District.
Mukatsar's old name was 'Khidrane Dee Dhab' , when the Tenth Sikh
Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji came here in 1705. The Mughal forces
were following Guru Ji. At Khidrane Dee Dhab , 40 Sikhs ( who had left
Guru Ji at Anandpur Sahib by giving a letter known as 'Bedava' ) fought
against Mughal forces under the leadership of Mata Mai Bhago and won
martyrdom. Only Mata Mai Bhago was able to survive. Guru Ji also killed
many Mughals with his arrows. When Guru Ji reached battlefield, one Sikh
Bhai Maha Singh was still alive. He requested Guru Ji to tear that
letter and again grant Sikhism to all the 40 Sikhs. Guru Ji tore that
letter and blessed 40 Sikhs as Muktas (the liberated ones who do not
fall into cycle of Births and deaths). Soon Maha Singh breathed his last
in Guru Ji's lap. So this Dhab came to be known as Mukatsar : Mukat
means 40 Muktas and Sar means Land, meaning 'the Land of 40 Muktas' or
'the Land of 40 liberated ones'. Litterly Mukatsar means 'the Pool of
Liberation' . Mukatsar was the last battlefield of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
in 1705.
This District has been divided into 3 Tehsils and 4 Sub-Tehsils -
Tehsils - Giddarbaha , Malout , Mukatsar
