Hola Mohalla - A Spectacular Event

Hola Mohalla festival synchronizes with the change in season and stands out differently from other festivals having multifaceted significance of immense interest to witness the colossal colourful demonstrations of skills by the Sikh warriors - Nihangs in their full finery proudly displaying their traditional turban – Dumala, riding the horses, weaponry, during Hola Mohalla Festival, which is the biggest Sikh annual festival where devotees from all over the globe reach the City of Bliss Takht Sri Keshgarh, Anandpur Sahib to celebrate  “Hola Mohalla” in a spectacular way, wherein a colossal number of Sikh devotees also display their physical strength by performing dare-devil stunts, such as bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses, Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging etc. with the traditional melody beat and poetry to lighten the true spirit of a warrior and this way strengthen the Sikh community by holding mock battles. Colourful processions are organized in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums, standard-bearers as a mark of respect towards this noble practice which was initiated by the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

(The Author Harpreet Sandhu is Advocate, Punjab & Haryana High Court)