Following persecution by the Mughal government, the Sikhs began to organize regular training exercises and became a rallying point for people dissatisfied with the Mughals. Rising tensions erupted during a clash between a group of Sikh and Mughal hunting. On Vaisaki Day, a Sikh hunting party put their hawk on a royal hawk and brought it down. When the hunting in Mughal came to pick up their hawk, they used violent language and the Sikhs then refused to part with it. This quarrel led to blows and the Mughals were forced to leave after their suffered losses. The incident with the hunting parties was used as an excuse to send 7,000 soldiers out with Mukhlis Khan to attack Guru Hargobind.
