Martyrdom of Guru Arjan · Shaheedi Purab Guru Arjan Dev

Culture of origin: Sikh · Historical

Holiday sources: Sikhism

Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, compiled the Adi Granth, the first form of the Sikh scripture, and completed the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, at Amritsar. He was arrested and executed in Lahore on May 30, 1606, on the orders of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, who wrote in his memoir that he had ordered it; he is regarded as the first Sikh martyr. The day is kept on Jeth sudi 4, the fourth day of the bright half of Jeth, in the early-summer heat, and Sikhs set up stalls (chhabeel) handing out sweetened water to passers-by.