Vadda Ghalughara (original) (raw)

Vadda Ghalughara (Punjabi: ਵੱਡਾ ਘੱਲੂਘਾਰਾ, romanized: ʋəɖɖɑ kə̀lːuɡɑ̀ɾɑ, lit. 'Greater Massacre') was the mass murder of unarmed Sikhs by the Afghan forces of the Durrani Empire during the years of Afghan influence in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent owing to the repeated incursions of Ahmad Shah Durrani in February 1762. It is distinguished from the Chhota Ghalughara (the Smaller Massacre). Mostly non-combatants were killed in the event, and an estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 Sikhs were killed on 5 February 1762.