Context

• Hola Mohalla is a vibrant Sikh festival that is celebrated every year in March, a day after the Hindu festival of Holi.

About Hola Mohalla

• This festival is observed on the second day of the lunar month of Chett and is a significant event in the Sikh calendar.
• It is celebrated by Sikhs all over the world, with the largest celebrations taking place in Anandpur Sahib, a holy city in the northern Indian state of Punjab.

  

• It is celebrated to symbolise martial bravery and fighting prowess with music.
• It is a yearly fair where Nihangs, renowned for their courageous acts dating back to the days of Ranjit Singh, demonstrate their martial arts skills in a distinctive yet traditional style.
• The Nihangs, adorned in their ceremonial garb, show the people gathered their astonishing feats of fighting, drills and ‘gatka’ or mock-battles.
• Daredevil acts like bareback horse-riding, standing upright on two speeding horses and many other such performances.
• Since the Hola Mohalla Festival is celebrated after Holi, the festival of colours is also celebrated during the three days.
• According to Guru Gobind Singh, “mostly during festivities of Hola Mohalla, a sword is often in demand at Nanded, so each member in the ceremony (jaloos) must have one in his hand.”
• An exciting part of the Sikh community is their cuisine.
  • The Langars, which is a Sikh community kitchen, prepares delicious vegetarian food.
  • Visitors enjoy their meal sitting together on Pangats.
• Visitors also enjoy a traditional line of Kirtans and Bhajans which are devotional songs and various religious lectures, music and poems.

Source: Redbus

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