Hola Mohalla Festival Tour – The Vibrant Sikh Festival

A festival where Celebration of bravery, athleticism and martial arts takes place can also be named as Sikh Olympics presented with cultural events. Yes, we are talking about Hola Mohalla Festival, held every year in the month of Phalguna preceded by Holi. A yearly celebration initiated by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, as a social occasion of Sikhs mocks fights and military activities following the celebration of Holi. It helps people of valor and defense preparedness, ideas dear to the Tenth Guru who were doing combating the Mughal Empire around then. At this celebration, mock fights are trailed by verse and music competitions. The Nihang Singhs carry on the military custom with mock fights and shows of pony riding and swordsmanship. They perform trying accomplishments, like Gatka, sans protection horse-riding, tent fixing, and standing erect on two speeding ponies.

There are numerous darbars where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is available, and kirtan and strict talks occur. Wearing sparkling swords, cone-shaped turbans, long lances, the Nihangs present a wild picture as they jog past riding horse splashing tones on individuals. On the last day, driven by Panj Pyaras, begins from Takht Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh strict seats, and goes through different significant gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, and Mata Jitoji and ends at the Takht.

For individuals visiting Anandpur Sahib, langar is organized by the nearby individuals as a piece of Sewa. Raw materials provided by locals living close by like vegetables, rice, wheat flour, sugar, and milk. Ladies volunteer to cook, and others partake in cleaning the utensils. Traditional cuisine is served to the pioneers who eat while sitting in lines on the ground.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji felt that Holi had lost its unique significance throughout the long term. It was as of now not a festival to reaffirm club and fellowship. In 1757, he chose to resuscitate the soul of Holi and mesh its quintessence into a celebration made in the Khalsa custom.

At the gurudwaras, early morning petitions mark the start of the celebration. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is carried out with service and put on the dais. It is given an emblematic shower with water and milk. Kar Sewa, Akhand Path, and Kirtans are performed and the Karah Prasad is distributed after it has been blessed by the guru. In the early evening, people from all castes and ideologies eat together at the guru ka langar.

Hola Mohalla is the major festival for the Sikhs to reaffirm their commitment to the Khalsa Panth. The Festival dates vary as per the Hindu Calendar, so you must check the holi dates before booking the Hola Mohalla Festival Tour package.

HISTORY OF HOLA MOHALLA

Hola is started from the word 'Halla' signifies military charge. Mohalla, the first Sikh encyclopedia as clarified by Mahan Kosh, implies an organized parade. Along these lines, the words Hola and Mohalla together mean the charge of a military.

Hola Mohalla is the continuation of the spring celebration of Holi. Guru Gobind Singh Ji consolidated a military property to make Hola Mohalla the method of observing Holi. It is accepted that Guru Gobind Singh Ji formed Hola Mohalla in 1680. The tactical preparation was completed on the bed of the River Charan Ganga, by and by managed by the Guru with the popular Hindu temple of Mata Naina Devi in the Shivaliks as the background. In this modest community of Punjab, many individuals assemble to observe the yearly occasion performed by the Sikhs during their long conflict against the Mughals.

Usually falling in March, the Hola Mohalla, a celebration of Punjab happens on the second day of the lunar month of Chaitra. This month points to the start of the Nanakshahi schedule. Albeit the celebration was praised for three days, individuals visiting here choose to remain on for the entire week retaining the spectacle and the air of the serene environment. Members at Anandpur Sahib have a unique encounter seeing charming presentations of valiance and ability. The Hola Mohalla Festival is celebrated day after Holi and commence for three consecutive days. So, if you are planning for Hola Mohalla festive tour, visit directly to Anandpur Sahib or book a cultural tour package. You can extend your trip with visit to most famous Golden temple, Planned city Chandigarh and multiply your tour experience. In two or three days, witness the traditional charm of Sikh religion, click stunning images of colorful and amazing festival.

HIGHLIGHTS OF HOLA MOHALLA FESTIVAL HELD EVERY YEAR IN PUNJAB

• It is a yearly fair where Nihangs, prestigious for their brave demonstrations, exhibit their military craftsmanship abilities in a particular conventional style.
• The Nihangs- a prestigious armed section of  the Sikha wearing a striking blend of orange and blue, thick moustaches and embellishing large turbans.show their astonishing feats of battling, drills, and 'gatka' or mock fights to individuals.
• Daredevil acts, such as, without any protection horse-riding, standing upstanding on two speeding ponies, and numerous different performances.
• According to the Guru Gobind Singh Ji, during the celebration of Hola Mohalla, a sword is frequently sought after at Nanded, so every part in the function (Jaloos) should have one in his grasp.
• The most intriguing part of the Sikh people group is their cooking. The Langar, flavorful veggie lover food arranged by the Sikh people group kitchen which guests partake in by sitting together on the ground.
• Visitors also enjoy a traditional line of Kirtan and Bhajan, the devotional songs, and various religious lectures, poems, and music.
• The main highlight of festival is the last day when grand procession begins with Panj Pyaras. (Five men). It is a group name given to five men of Sikh community by Guru Gobind Singh ji. The procession begins from Takht Keshgarh Sahib and then passes through sacred Gurudwaras as Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji, and then return back to the Takht.

 

Hola Mohalla is a weeklong celebration, closes at Gurudwara Holgarh Sahib, one and a half kilometers northwest of the town across the stream Charan Ganga, where the Guru Gobind Singh Ji introduced the Hola festivity the day after Holi. Hola Mohalla passes on the message of boldness and protection arrangement, which guards the Sikhs against the dangers of the Mughal Empire and the Hill Kings.

ANANDPUR SAHIB- The Location of Hola Mohalla Festival

Hola Mohalla Festival is organized on a large scale in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. The city lies in the lower regions of the Shivaliks in Ropar region of north-eastern area of Punjab. The city is well connected to Other India cities by various means of transport as air, railway and road. From Delhi, you can have an amazing road trip in approx. 5-6 hours as it is just 300 kms from national capital.

Punjab is an important tourist destination in North India. North India boasts more destinations to add memory to your India tour. Know more about special North India tour.

The celebration is taking place with full zeal since 1701. During the Baisakhi celebration in 1699, at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Ji brought forth the Khalsa. He initiated the local Panj Piar and celebrated the Order of Holy Warriors that swore to guard the Sikhs and their kindred compatriots and strict privileges.

At this amazing celebration mock fights, shows, showcases of weapons, and so on are held, trailed by Kirtan, music, and poetry competitions. The members perform challenging accomplishments, like Gatka (mock experiences with genuine weapons), tent fixing, daring bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding ponies, and different accomplishments of courage.

Sikhs in huge numbers gather at Anandpur Sahib on this day and a great and beautiful parade is taken out in which the Nihangs, in their conventional array, structure the vanguard while strutting their ability in the utilization of arms, horsemanship, tent-fixing, and another conflict like games.

The most tremendous occasion at Hola Mahalla is the eminent parade of Nihangs on ponies and elephants and foot conveying an assortment of conventional and current weapons and showing their best ability.

The Hola Mahalla celebration is novel and recognizable from different celebrations in that the Nihang have attempted to protect the customary structure and content as set up during its beginning, and stringently seen by the Akalis, for over three centuries.