The State of Malerkotla or Maler Kotla was established by Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs, is a princely state in the Punjab region since the era of British India. Which was taken over by Sarwani and Lodi Pashtun dynasty from Afghanistan, and named Malerkotla as capital.

Vadda Ghalughara 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. Mostly non-combatants were killed in the event, and an estimated that 10,000 to 50,000 Sikhs were killed on 5 February 1762.