ANANDPUR SAHIB 1705 A.D. The Siege of Anandpur and the Battle of Chamkaur May Dec 1705

Machiwara Forest, 21 st Dec 1705 A.D. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji rests under a tree in the Machiwara Forest after he finally emerges safely from a treacherous battle to protect his 40 sant- sipahis. He sings this shabad to thank God for keeping him safe and humbly request for God to be with him.

Machiwara Forest, 21 st Dec 1705 A.D Following the orders by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the Mughal Army was searching for Guru Ji all over the forest. YOU, Guru Ji’s dearest and bravest Sant Sipahis must now come to Guru Ji’s rescue.

Are you ready?

Your Task YOU and YOUR TEAM will make your way from Fort Anandpur Sahib to Chamkaur, rest and replenish there and go across the Sirsa River and look for Guru Ji in the Machiwara Forest and bring him to safety.

Your Task LEAD each other towards Guru Ji. ALL of you are leaders and you have to reach Guru Ji as a team not alone. Remember there will be obstacles in your way but you will OVERCOME them as a TEAM and lead your way towards Guru Ji successfully.

The Action Plan Anandpur Sahib Poison Ivy Leading to Fort Chamkaur Fort Chamkaur Night at Fort Chamkaur Crossing the Sirsa River Prepare for battle/obstacles Battle Field Meet Guru Ji at Machiwara Forest

Station 1 – Overcoming Posion Ivy Description of Activity For this station, kids will be required to get through a maze of rope as a team without having any physical contact with the rope. The rope will serve as the “poison ivy” and they have to get through safely as a team. Logistics 1.Two pillars/poles as support, we can find an area in the venue to set up this 2.Twine/Rafia 3.Pen Knife/Scissors 4.One Person In-Charge of station

Station 2 – Capturing the flag at Chamkaur Description of Activity For this station, kids will be required to complete an obstacle course in order to capture the flag and hoist the flag to show that the Sikh battalion has reached Fort Chamkaur and are heading towards their Guru. We should exploit the venue’s capability in designing the obstacle course. Some components of the obstacle course could be mud crawling (using elbows and feet), jumping ropes, guiding a ball along a cone-deliniated path and finally ending in searching for the flag blind-folded in a tub of a mixture of funny things, maybe(e.g flour, sand, oil etc.).We can say that the flag is hidden in a ditch and they have to search for it before hoisting it. Logistics The Flag, an orange one with the Khalsa symbol is preferable 1.Ball 2.Cones (10-12) 3.Strong Jumping Rope (5) 4.Tub/Pail where the flag will be hidden 5.Anything to fill in Pail e.g. oil, flour, water, sand etc.-can improvise

Station 3 – Night at Chamkaur Description of Activity For this station, kids will be blindfolded and preferably in a dim area. We can start off by making them do some Simran, as this is their rest place in their journey. And then we make some noises and they have to exit because there is a threat. So they have to climb and walk along a narrow bench blindfolded. Logistics 1.Blindfold (20-one per kid) 2.Bench (or any suitable place at venue) 3.3 People or more to overlook this station-for safety

Station 4 – Navigating Sirsa River Description of Activity For this station, kids will be given rafts (i.e. cardboard), and they have to remain on the cardboard boxes at all times and move from one point to another without the feet of any member touching the ground or the “river” rather as there are alligators in the river. As they make their way, the person-in charge will present more challenges or help for them e.g. For example the person may say that there has been a storm and a portion of your raft has been broken and then tear off a piece of the board and the kids have to squeeze on the remaining board. (Basically think of the news paper game but more innovative and difficult) Logistics 1.Huge pieces of cardboard (around 20, maybe flattened cardboard boxes) 2.2 Persons giving instructions 3.Detailed Print Out of Instructions (I can do this)

Station 5 – Preparing for Battle Description of Activity For this station, kids will be given limited materials and limited time (15-20 mins max) to prepare shields for battle. Each Jatha has to make two shields and this will be used in the last station, the water battle. Logistics 1.Cardboard 2.Plastic (Book wrap type) 3.Scotch tape 4.Scissors 5.Newspaper 6.Stop-watch & Whistle

Station 6 – Battle (Water Bomb Battle) Description of Activity Kids will be using their shields to protect themselves from water bomb attacks from a group of facilitators. They will be given ammunition i.e. a pail of water bombs and they have to attack the facilitators and they have to defend themselves at the same time. The team which is drier after 5-10 mins wins and of course this would be the kids team! Logistics 1.Pails 2.Red Coloured Water Bombs (a gazillion of them!)- red dye and lots of plastic bags 3.Shields for Fascis to be prepared beforehand-can be something durable like a piece of wood so we don’t have to keep changing this