Card or langar tray
Cut the Khanda or a diya from thin plastic. Sponge paint through it onto a card, or dust it onto a cake for the sangat.
Printable for Bandi Chhor Divas
Free Bandi Chhor Divas stencils to print
Bandi Chhor Divas marks Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji coming home to Amritsar after freeing 52 princes from Gwalior Fort. The Golden Temple was lit with diyas, and Sikhs still light them every year. This pack has the Khanda, the Golden Temple, three diya designs and Bandi Chhor Divas lettering. Print, cut and paint them on cards, windows and walls.
The pack is 6 stencils, free with no signup, as one PDF or SVGs for Cricut. Further down are designs made by real people with Free Stencil Maker: their PDFs are free with a free account.The free Bandi Chhor Divas pack
6 stencils. No signup, free to use, including on things you sell.
Made by the community
Bandi Chhor stencils made by real people with Free Stencil Maker. Open one to see every layer.
Pick a size for what you're making
Measure what you are decorating, then print the size that fits.
T-shirt or bag
Fabric paint and a nearly dry sponge. Put card inside so the paint doesn't soak through.
Window or wall
Window paint on glass, or emulsion on a wall. The Golden Temple and the diyas look good together across a window. Join two A4 sheets if you have no A3 printer.
How to use a Bandi Chhor stencil
- Pick a design and download the PDF. Print a small test first, then print at the size you need.
- Print on card (200 to 300gsm) for a stencil you can use a few times, or onto mylar for one that lasts for years.
- Cut out every black area with a sharp craft knife. Keep the thin bridges on the lettering: they hold the middles of the letters in.
- Tape the stencil flat. Dab paint on with a sponge that is almost dry, or spray in light coats from about 30cm.
- Lift the stencil straight up while the paint is still a little wet so the edges stay crisp.
Guides
Make your own
Upload any photo or drawing. Free Stencil Maker splits it into layers, adds bridges so nothing falls out, and gives you a printable stencil in about a minute.
Make one from your own designQuestions
Are these Bandi Chhor Divas stencils really free?
Yes. The pack is free to download with no signup and no email: PDF to print and SVG for cutting machines. Use them for your home, your gurdwara or things you sell, like cards. Just don't resell the stencil files themselves.
What is Bandi Chhor Divas?
The Day of Liberation. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was held in Gwalior Fort and refused to leave unless 52 imprisoned princes could leave with him. He returned to Amritsar on the day of Diwali, and the Golden Temple was lit with lamps to welcome him.
When is Bandi Chhor Divas in 2027?
It falls on the same day as Diwali, expected on 29 October 2027. Check with your gurdwara for the local programme.
Why is the Khanda stencil joined with thin bridges?
The ring (chakkar) and the crossed kirpans hold paper inside them. Without the two small bridges those middles would fall out when you cut. Leave them in while you paint, then touch up the lines with a fine brush if you want them solid.
How do I use these with a Cricut or Silhouette?
Download the SVG for one design, or the ZIP with all of them. Upload it to Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio, size it, and cut from stencil vinyl or mylar. Black is the part the machine cuts out.
What is the best material for a reusable stencil?
Mylar (stencil plastic) around 0.19mm thick. It survives washing and lasts for years. Card is fine for one batch of cards.