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Hola Mohalla

The Hola Mohalla (also sometimes called Hola) is the largest Sikh holiday and falls every year in March, just after or during the Festival of Colors (Holi). The date is calculated based on the position of the moon and is set for the second day of the lunar month of Chett, according to the Sikh calendar (Nanakshahi calendar, named after the first guru of Sikkhism, Guru Nanak).

The 10th guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who created the Hola Mohalla in 1680, relied on the Holi (festival of colors) by adding a military dimension to it.

Hola Mohalla would mean according to some sources, "the charge of the army" and according to others the term would rather mean "procession of an army column heading towards a given place".

What the holy book of the Sikhs says

Guru Granth Sahib (see the film's introduction on Amritsar), the sacred book considered to be the 11th guru of Sikkhism tells the story of Prahlad , a child of Harnakash, king of Multan, who refused to recognize his father as a god. The king's sister, Holka decided to immolate the child by fire to please her brother. She took Prahlad on her lap and seated herselfm settled in the middle of a pile of straw and set it on fire. Holka believed herself protected by her saree, but it was Prahlad who survived, Holka dying in the fire. This story symbolizes the victory of good over evil. This story told by the great poet Kabir and repeated in Granth Sahib would also have inspired Gobind Sing for the creation of the feast of Hola Mohalla.

Impressions

It is not essential to know the mythical origins of the feast of Hola Mohalla to appreciate these parades of Sikhs wearing beards and turban and armed with swords or other weapons. The parade of these colorful Sikhs is very impressive and despite the military origin of the festival, the atmosphere is more festive than a martial parade.

Once gathered in the stadium where the festivities take place, the arrival of the riders standing on their horse (s) galloping through the crowd is extremely impressive. And the colors many of which are covered are a reminder that the Holi party is in full swing.

Event: Hola Mohalla

Sikhs have always stood out for their bravery and skill in arms. Every year in March a big festival brings together the Sikhs in the city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. The participants then put on their traditional blue and orange clothes and their (sometimes very) impressive turbans and parade on foot or on horseback. This gives rise to impressive demonstrations of equestrian art, all in a friendly atmosphere and ultimately very peaceful despite all the weapons carried by the participants.

 

Spoken comments in the film: 

In 2018, the Hola Mohalla took place in the week of March 3. Here are some images of this impressive event. 

The Sikhs have always distinguished themselves by their bravery and skill in arms. Every year in March, a big party brings together the Sikhs in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. 

The participants then put on their traditional blue and orange clothes and their (sometimes very impressive) turban and parade on foot or on horseback. This gives rise to impressive demonstrations of equestrian art, all in a good-natured and ultimately very peaceful atmosphere, despite all the weapons carried by the participants.

about the place, Anandpur Sahib:

Anandpur is the Mecca of Sikhs in Punjab. The last two Sikh gurus lived there, Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gorbad Singh. The city is also an important pilgrimage site for Sikhs and each year the national holiday of Sikhs, the Hola Mohalla is celebrated there.