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Religion
Gwalior commemorates 745 sadhus on Vijayadashami with weapon worship at Ganga Das Badi Shala
✍️ Amar Ujala · Gwalior
🗓 20 Oct 2026, 08:15 PM
👁 15
On Vijayadashami, Gwalior’s Ganga Das Badi Shala hosted a ceremony honoring 745 sadhus who fought the British, with weapons and cannons offered in worship.
Gwalior’s historic Ganga Das Badi Shala became the focal point of a Vijayadashami ceremony on which devotees gathered to worship weapons and a cannon, symbolising the valor of 745 sadhus who took up arms against the British colonial forces.
The sadhus, drawn from the region’s monastic orders, are remembered for their sacrifice during the 1857 uprising, a struggle that also saw Rani Lakshmibai’s body kept from falling into British hands. Their collective resistance is regarded as a defining episode of local bravery.
During the ritual, swords, rifles and a ceremonial cannon were placed on an altar and offered prayers, a practice that blends martial remembrance with traditional religious rites. Attendees, including local clergy and community leaders, observed the ceremony as a living tribute to the martyrs.
Organisers emphasized that Ganga Das Badi Shala continues to serve as a tangible reminder of that historic sacrifice, ensuring that the memory of the 745 sadhus remains vibrant for future generations.
The sadhus, drawn from the region’s monastic orders, are remembered for their sacrifice during the 1857 uprising, a struggle that also saw Rani Lakshmibai’s body kept from falling into British hands. Their collective resistance is regarded as a defining episode of local bravery.
During the ritual, swords, rifles and a ceremonial cannon were placed on an altar and offered prayers, a practice that blends martial remembrance with traditional religious rites. Attendees, including local clergy and community leaders, observed the ceremony as a living tribute to the martyrs.
Organisers emphasized that Ganga Das Badi Shala continues to serve as a tangible reminder of that historic sacrifice, ensuring that the memory of the 745 sadhus remains vibrant for future generations.