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[[Image: | [[Image:Holla.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Holla Mohalla festival (Photo:Reuters/Kamal Kishore]] | ||
'''Hola Mohalla''' or '''Hola Mahalla''' or simply '''Hola''' is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of [[Chet]] which usually falls in March. This follows the Hindu festival of Holi; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding [[Holi]]. Mohalla, derived from the Arabic root hal (alighting, descending), is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. But unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle color, dry or mixed in water, on each other, the Guru made [[Hola Mohalla]] an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles. | |||
Together the words '''"Hola Mohalla"''' stands for "mock fight". During this festivals, procession are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one [[gurdwara]] to another. The custom originated in the time of [[Guru Gobind Singh]] who held first such mock fight event at [[Anandpur]] in February 1701. | |||
The foothills of the Shivaliks in [[Ropar]] district of [[Punjab]]'s north-eastern region, especially around the historic townships of [[Anandpur]] Sahib and [[Kiratpur]] Sahib, have, since 1701 been playing host to [[Hola Mohalla]]. Recently, the Indian government accorded it the status of a national festival. The military exercise, which was personally supervised by the guru, was carried out on the bed of the River Charan Ganga with the famous Hindu temple of Mata Naina Devi in the Shivaliks as the backdrop. | |||
[[Image:5beloved right.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Panj Pyara leading a march (Photo:www.bbc.co.uk]] | |||
This annual festival held at [[Anandpur]] Sahib in [[Punjab]] and other [[Gurdwara]]s worldwide was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of [[Holi]]. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the [[Mughal]] empire. | This annual festival held at [[Anandpur]] Sahib in [[Punjab]] and now replicated at other [[Gurdwara]]s worldwide was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of [[Holi]] at [[Anandpur]] Sahib. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the [[Mughal]] empire and the hill kings. | ||
On this three-day grand festival mock battles are held followed by [[kirtan]], music and poetry competitions. | On this three-day grand festival, mock battles, exhibitions, display of weapons, etc are held followed by [[kirtan]], music and poetry competitions. The participants perform daring feats, such as [[Gatka]] (mock encounters with real weapons), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses and various other feats of bravery. | ||
There are also a number of [[Darbar]]s where [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] is present and [[kirtan]] and religious lectures take place. On the last day a long procession, led by [[Panj Pyara]]s, starts from [[Takhat]] [[Keshgarh Sahib]], one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important | There are also a number of [[Darbar]]s where [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] is present and [[kirtan]] and religious lectures take place. On the last day a long procession, led by [[Panj Pyara]]s, starts from [[Takhat]] [[Keshgarh Sahib]], one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important [[Gurdwara]]s like Qila [[Anandgarh]], [[Lohgarh]] Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takhat (Keshgarh). | ||
For people visiting [[Anandpur]] Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of [[sewa]] (community service). Raw materials like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women volunteer to cook and others take part in cleaning utensils and other manual tasks that need to be carried out. Traditional cuisine is served to the pilgrims who eat while sitting in rows on the ground. (Pangat) | For people visiting [[Anandpur]] Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of [[sewa]] (community service). Raw materials like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women volunteer to cook and others take part in cleaning utensils and other manual tasks that need to be carried out. Traditional cuisine is served to the pilgrims who eat while sitting in rows on the ground. (Pangat) | ||
==Warlike sports of the Nihangs== | |||
[[Image:Gatka1.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Gatka fighting during festivities]] | |||
Originally known as Akalis, the [[Nihnga]]s or Nihang Singhs are endearingly designated as Guru's Knights or the Guru's beloved. They still carry the military ambience and heroic style that was cultivated during the lifetime of Guru Gobind Singh. Nihangs constitute a distinctive order among the Sikhs and are readily recognized by their dark blue loose apparel and their ample, peaked turbans festooned with quoits, insignia of the Khalsa and rosaries, all made of steel. They are always armed, and are usually seen mounted heavily laden with weapons such as swords, daggers, spears, rifles, shotguns, and pistols. | |||
The word Nihang can be traced back to Persian nihang (alligator, sword) or to Sanskrit nishanka (fearless, carefree). In the former sense, it seems to refer to the reckless courage members of this order displayed in battle. In Guru Gobind Singh's writing, Var Sri Bhagauti Ji 47, it is used for swordsmen warriors of the vanguard. Whatever may be the origin the word Nihang, it signifies the characteristic qualities of the clan- their freedom from fear of danger or death, readiness for action and non-attachment to worldly possessions. During the eighteenth century, one of the confederate armies of the Dal Khalsa, constituted of the Nishanvalia misl chief, Naina Singh, whose style of tightly tied tall turban with a dumala gained currency and those who adopted were called Akali Nihangs. | |||
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== Links == | == Links == | ||
Above article adapted from material from: | |||
* [http://allaboutsikhs.com/way/holamohalla.htm Gateway to Sikhism]] | |||
* [http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112004/hola.htm www.sikhspectrum.com An Article by M S. Ahluwalia] | * [http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112004/hola.htm www.sikhspectrum.com An Article by M S. Ahluwalia] | ||
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/ www.bbc.co.uk] | * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/ www.bbc.co.uk] | ||
* [http://www.singhsabha.com/holla_mohalla.htm www.singhsabha.com] | |||
* [http://festivals.iloveindia.com/holla-mohalla/ www.iloveindia.com] | * [http://festivals.iloveindia.com/holla-mohalla/ www.iloveindia.com] | ||
* [http://www.namasthenri.com/fairsandfestivals/holamohalla.htm Festivals of India] | * [http://www.namasthenri.com/fairsandfestivals/holamohalla.htm Festivals of India] | ||
Revision as of 18:52, 1 March 2006
Hola Mohalla or Hola Mahalla or simply Hola is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet which usually falls in March. This follows the Hindu festival of Holi; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi. Mohalla, derived from the Arabic root hal (alighting, descending), is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. But unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle color, dry or mixed in water, on each other, the Guru made Hola Mohalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles.
Together the words "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight". During this festivals, procession are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one gurdwara to another. The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701.
The foothills of the Shivaliks in Ropar district of Punjab's north-eastern region, especially around the historic townships of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib, have, since 1701 been playing host to Hola Mohalla. Recently, the Indian government accorded it the status of a national festival. The military exercise, which was personally supervised by the guru, was carried out on the bed of the River Charan Ganga with the famous Hindu temple of Mata Naina Devi in the Shivaliks as the backdrop.
This annual festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and now replicated at other Gurdwaras worldwide was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of Holi at Anandpur Sahib. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the Mughal empire and the hill kings.
On this three-day grand festival, mock battles, exhibitions, display of weapons, etc are held followed by kirtan, music and poetry competitions. The participants perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters with real weapons), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses and various other feats of bravery.
There are also a number of Darbars where Sri Guru Granth Sahib is present and kirtan and religious lectures take place. On the last day a long procession, led by Panj Pyaras, starts from Takhat Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important Gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takhat (Keshgarh).
For people visiting Anandpur Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of sewa (community service). Raw materials like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women volunteer to cook and others take part in cleaning utensils and other manual tasks that need to be carried out. Traditional cuisine is served to the pilgrims who eat while sitting in rows on the ground. (Pangat)
Warlike sports of the Nihangs
Originally known as Akalis, the Nihngas or Nihang Singhs are endearingly designated as Guru's Knights or the Guru's beloved. They still carry the military ambience and heroic style that was cultivated during the lifetime of Guru Gobind Singh. Nihangs constitute a distinctive order among the Sikhs and are readily recognized by their dark blue loose apparel and their ample, peaked turbans festooned with quoits, insignia of the Khalsa and rosaries, all made of steel. They are always armed, and are usually seen mounted heavily laden with weapons such as swords, daggers, spears, rifles, shotguns, and pistols.
The word Nihang can be traced back to Persian nihang (alligator, sword) or to Sanskrit nishanka (fearless, carefree). In the former sense, it seems to refer to the reckless courage members of this order displayed in battle. In Guru Gobind Singh's writing, Var Sri Bhagauti Ji 47, it is used for swordsmen warriors of the vanguard. Whatever may be the origin the word Nihang, it signifies the characteristic qualities of the clan- their freedom from fear of danger or death, readiness for action and non-attachment to worldly possessions. During the eighteenth century, one of the confederate armies of the Dal Khalsa, constituted of the Nishanvalia misl chief, Naina Singh, whose style of tightly tied tall turban with a dumala gained currency and those who adopted were called Akali Nihangs.
Links
Above article adapted from material from:
