Holla Mohalla Festival is Coming on 28 March 2013.
About Holla Mohalla Festival
Holla Mohalla, or Hola Mohalla, is the festival of Punjab. Celebrated over three days, the festival retains the character of fun and enjoyment that Holi has embodied. In addition to this, it is also a community festival that brings people together in an atmosphere of sharing and caring. It is also an occasion to remember the valor of the Sikhs in battling the enemies of the land. The festival day begins with early morning prayers at the Gurdwaras. The Guru Granth Sahib is ceremoniously taken out and bathed ritually with milk and water. Thereafter, it is placed on a platform and venerated.
Kirtans are sung, the prasad is consecrated and everyone shares a part of it. After the service, community lunch is served at the common hall. Evening is a time for numerous cultural activities. The Nihang Sikhs, who are part of the Sikh army that Guru Gobind Singh founded, exhibit their martial skills and daring through mock battles, sword-fighting displays, archery and horse-riding exercises. The Nihangs also splash color on the spectators, and everyone follows suit. Stories and songs about the life, valor and wisdom of the ten Sikh gurus, right from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, are told and recited.
Music, dance and poetry programs and competitions are held at many venues. A procession is carried through the important Gurdwaras in town marking the highlights of the last day celebrations. Holla Mohalla, while being an occasion to rejoice, is also a time to restore faith in the Khalsa Panth and rededicate oneself to the service of the community. Everyone, irrespective of their social standing, involves themselves in kar seva – manual labor, such as helping in the langars or public kitchens, cleaning the Gurdwaras and washing dishes.
History of Holla Mohalla Festival
Holla Mohalla was first started on 1st March 1757 at Anandpur on
Chet vadi. This custom was originated during the time of Guru Gobind
Singh (1666-1708) who held the first procession at Anandpur on Chet
vadi. This was done to avert a grimmer struggle against imperial power
following the battle of Ninnohgrah in 1700. Guru Sahib told his Sikhs
wake up to their responsibility and duty as akaal purakh ki fauj (the
Army of the Almighty) to defend the truth and protect society. Thus, the
history of Holla Mollaha goes back to 1757 A.D.
Since then, Holla Mohalla has become a full fledged event held
particularly in an open field near Holgarh Fort which is located in the
northwest to the town of Anandpur. It is also believed to be started by
Guru Gobind Singh where he accumulated all the Sikhs and encouraged them
to perform various activities including Martial Arts etc.
Celebration of Holla Mohalla Festival
Holla Mohalla festival is celebrated to reaffirm fraternity and brotherhood and reminding people of “valour and defence preparedness”, concepts very dear to the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh ji. Colorful processions are organized on the occassion of Holla Mohalla, particularly in Anandpur Sahib and Muktsar(both in Indian Punjab). Sikhs, especially the Nihangs, dressed in their traditional martial costumes form part of the pageant. Mock battles are also held followed by music,poetry and other competitions. The Nihang Singhs (members of the Sikh army founded by Guru Govind Singh) portray their skills with mock battles and displays of swordsmanship and horse riding. The Nihang Singhs also perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding and standing erect on two speeding horses. Recently, the Indian Goverment had accorded Holla Mohalla the status of a ” National Festival”.
