The festival of Holla Mohalla is celebrated to coincide with the festival of Holi. As many as 1 million pilgrims & visitors from all over Punjab, start converging at the holy towns of Kiratpur Sahib & Anandpur Sahib a week before Holi. Maximum attendance at Anandpur Sahib is observed from 2 days before Holi, to the day after Holi when the Holla Mohalla festival or traditional sports day of the Nihang Dals is celebrated.
About Holla Mohalla
When
Holla Moholla begins on the first day of the lunar month of Chet, which often falls in March and sometimes coincides with the Sikh New Year.
History
The famous Holla Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib was established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Guru of the Sikhs) on 22nd February, 1701. It was aimed to be a sports day to determine the military preparedness of the Khalsa Pant (or holy warriors) to fight tyranny & establish a just social order in India. To this day it is celebrated by the Nihang Dals or Holy Warriors who claim their descent from the original regiments of the Guru. The Nihangs still live by the code of warriors of that era. They practice the old martial arts & horsemanship, showcasing their daring skills in sword fighting, tent pegging, archery & other martial skills of that bygone era.
