The month of Poh (mid-December to mid-January) carries a weight unlike any other. It is a month steeped in shahadat—martyrdom. Time itself seems to pause, as though urging us to turn inward, to listen, to remember.

This pause is not an emptiness. It is a call. A call to witness the depth of loss and the radiance of courage that converge in this season. Poh holds the stories that test our hearts and steady our steps. It asks us to remember, to honor, and, in remembrance and honor, to rise.

We recall the family of the Tenth Sovereign, torn apart under unbearable circumstances. The Sarsa River still flows as testimony, carrying within its depths not just manuscripts but fragments of trust, hope, and safety. That river’s memory is our own, a reminder of what was given up so we may remember who we are.

Chamkaur stands before us as more than a battle. It is a testament to defiance in the face of overwhelming odds. Khidrana rises not as a geographical entity, but as a living memory of perseverance against despair. The Vade Sahibzade, the elder sons, remained steadfast amid the chaos, their spirits unbroken. The Chote Sahibzade, the younger ones, stood in innocence yet carried a courage that still humbles us. And Mata Gujri’s words to them, “Remember who you are,” continue to resound through generations, a call to live anchored in identity and truth.

Even betrayal finds its place in this remembrance. Gangu, once trusted, faltered, his weakness etched into history. His choice remains a reminder of the human tendency to stumble. Yet even here, we are called to rise above, to let loyalty and conviction be stronger than fear or greed.

From these sacrifices arises the Dat—the Gift. The lives offered are not lost; they become seeds of virtues we continue to harvest. Resilience rising from the ashes. Perseverance carries us through storms. Justice refusing to bend before power. Gratitude blooms even in the winters of despair. These are not abstractions. They are living inheritances, shaping us still.

Above all stands the supreme Gift of Gifts: Nam—Identification with the Eternal, the 1Force that binds us across time. Through Nam, martyrdom transforms into more than loss. It becomes testimony to love, truth, and the unbreakable connection to the Eternal.

As we move through this month of shahadat, let us pause in remembrance. Let the echoes stir us, not into despair, but into courage. May we carry forward the strength gifted to us, rising with gratitude and resolve.

Let us remember.
Let us honor.
Let us rise.

May the Wisdom-Guru guide us!