Context:

India celebrates the Veer Baal Diwas annually on 26^th December.

More on the news: 

• Veer Baal Diwas is a nationwide celebration honouring children as the foundation of India’s future.
• On this occasion, Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan, aimed at improving the nutritional outcomes and well-being by strengthening the implementation of nutrition-related services, was also launched. 
• Veer Bal Diwas week was also observed from 16th December to 26th December 2024. 

Background:

• Prime Minister on the day of the birth anniversary of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on 9th January 2022 announced the celebration of 'Veer Bal Diwas' to pay homage to the courage of 'Sahibzade' sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Guru.
• Accordingly, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India issued a Gazette notification and declared 26th December 2022 as 'Veer Bal Diwas' a National Day to pay tribute to unparalleled sacrifices made by the sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Sahib Zada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahib Zada Fateh Singh Ji) while walking on the path of justice.

The Story of SAHIBZADE:

• The sons of the Tenth Guru - Guru Gobind Singh Ji are called Sahibzade.
• Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh are called elder Sahibzade and Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh are called younger Sahibzade.
• When Guru Gobind Singh and his family left the Fort of Anandpur Sahib, a fierce battle broke out against the Mughals near the River Sarsa (also referred to as Sirsa).
• At the time of crossing the River Sarsa, Guru Ji's family members got separated from each other.
• Guru Gobind Singh Ji, his elder Sahibzade and a group of Sikhs reached the fortress of Chamkaur where on 23rd December 1704, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh got martyred while fighting with 10 lakh  Mughal soldiers.
• Gangu (the old cook of the Guru) took the younger Sahibzade and Mata Gujri Ji to his village Kheri. Driven by greed, he got the younger Sahibzade and Mata Ji arrested.
• The tyrannical Nawab of Sarhind, Wazir Khan kept them imprisoned at Thanda Burj and made them appear in the Court for three days. 
• They were threatened to be killed if they did not embrace Islam.
• When younger Sahibzade adamantly refused his proposal, he got younger Sahibzade aged 7 and 9 years bricked alive and martyred them in Sirhind on 26th December, 1704.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)

• He was the tenth and last Guru of Sikh, he was the son of Guru Teg Bahadur (9^th Guru of Sikh).
• He incorporated the hymns of Guru Teg Bahadur in the Holy Granth and installed Guru Granth Sahib as the living Guru.
• He also founded the principles and duties of Khalsa.
• The five emblems prescribed for the order of the Khalsa: - keshas, kangha, kachha, kirpan and kara, are an indispensable part of the order of the khalsa.