The Sikh Tradition of Hola Mahalla

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

The Sikh Tradition of Hola Mahalla

Q. HOLI OR HOLA?

A. Holi is a Hindu festival celebrating the victory of the Saint Prahlade over his evil aunt Holika who tried to burn him alive. However the reasoning behind this festival had long been forgotten, even during the time of the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Jee it had become a meaningless day of throwing colour on each other. Guru Gobind Singh Jee ordered that his Khalsa would not celebrate Holi and instead introduced the tradition of HOLA MAHALLA. Hola is the masculine form of the word Holi indicating the bravery of the Khalsa. The literal meaning of Hola Mahalla is military exercises or manoeuvres.

Q. When was Hola Mahalla first celebrated?

A. Hola was celebrated for the first time in the year after the birth of the Khalsa, 1700 AD and from then on has been celebrated every year in the fields of the Holgarh Fort at Anandpur Sahib.

Q. How is the Hola Mahalla festival celebrated?

A. Guru Gobind Singh Jee wanted to make his Khalsa army into a superior fighting force and so asked his followers to come together to have mock battles at the fort of Holgarh to learn the necessary fighting tactics that they would need in a real battle. The Khalsa armies would demonstrate their skills of horsemanship, soldiery, swordsmanship and archery.

Each year thousands of Sikhs including large numbers of Nihang Singhs gather at Anandpur Sahib and take part in the procession from the fort of Holgarh to the fort of Fatehgarh. Fighting skills such as Gatka, Archery and Horsemanship are demonstrated as well as more modern sports.

Q. Why did Guru Jee feel the need for Hola?

A. This was further em

phasising the importance that Guru Jee laid upon making his Khalsa an army of SAINT-SOLDIERS. He wanted to rid the people of cowardice and make the "sparrow hunt the eagle". Guru Jee knew that the Khalsa would have to fight against oppression, tyranny and persecution and history has borne witness to this throughout the 300 years of the existence of the Khalsa Army. Countless tyrants have tried to crush the Khalsa but each time with, Guru Gobind Singh Jee's blessing, it rises a stronger force.

Q. What should we learn from the Hola Mahalla Festival?

A. Each year the Sikhs should treat Hola as an opportunity to refresh their martial spirit and abiding by Guru Jee's hukam we should all strive to be true SAINT-SOLDIERS who can stand against injustice wherever it occurs in the world.

It is unfortunate that so much of the so called Sikh youth nowadays are wasting their energies on Bhangra Dancing when they should be learning the dance of the sword GATKA.

http://www.akj.org.uk/akj/literature/young...holamahalla.htm

[Bahadur Singhni]

It is unfortunate that so much of the so called Sikh youth nowadays are wasting their energies on Bhangra Dancing when they should be learning the dance of the sword GATKA.

soo..tru.. :blink:

nachiai ttapiai bhugath n hoe ||

By dancing and jumping, devotional worship is not performed.

[gurkiya_sakhiya]

waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh jio

i wana learn gatka..

as i alread know bhangra(very well..and that makes me sad, ashemd cuz i dont know gatka)

can some one tell me where people teach gatka in US?

thanks much

humbly

kaur

[me moorakh mugadh]

fathe to all of u

we must do prachar of this hola mohalla what is the meaning i thnk so if we do we can see the rite thing

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

vaaheguru ji ka khalsa vaaheguru ji ki fateh

veer karam singh ji posted info. about Gatka lessons in Fremont, CA today. If you live near Fremont be sure to read Bhai Sahib's post. If you can provide info. about your whereabouts then I might be able to ask around about who teaches Gatka in your area.

vaaheguru ji ka khalsa vaaheguru ji ki fateh

[Guest SikhForLife]

u can come to camp chardikala in nY .. bhai Nidhar singh .. from shastarvidya will be there to teach gatka/martial arts..

i might be going this year.. bhai ranjeet singh jee will be there too

:D

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

the kirtani Bhai Ranjeet Singh Ji or the one who should be the Jathedaar of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib Ji?

[Guest SikhForLife]

keertani.. akj veer

aka "nusrat" of akj

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

aka "nusrat" of akj

:D