Holi Celebrations in Punjab: Known for their love for life, Sikhs celebrate Holi in their own style and elan. At Punjab, they call it ‘Hola Mohalla‘. They shout, and shout their hearts out following a peculiar tradition. Besides, they also exhibit their martial arts specially ‘kushti’ on this day and make merry with the colors in the evening. Mouthwatering halwas, puris, gujias, a preparation of raw jack fruit and malpuas are of course, an essential part of the festivities. The only difference is that they do not light a bonfire.
Holi celebrations in Punjab – Photo Gallery
Students of KMV College Jalandhar in a joyous mood in Jalandhar
Students celebrate Holi on the Guru Nanak Dev University campus in Amritsar
Special children make natural Holi colours at Ibadat School in Amritsar
People buy sprinklers pichkaris and colours ahead of the Holi Festival in Bathinda
Members of the Aastha Ladies Club have a gala time during the Holi celebrations in Ludhiana
Children celebrate Holi dressed as Lord Krishna and Radha at Maple Bear Canadian_preschool in Ludhiana
A devotee of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness ISKON is dressed as Lord Krishna during a pre Holi programme on the outskirts of Amritsar
Children of ABC Montessori School BRS Nagar take part in a Holi function in Ludhiana
Children of Daddy’s Teddy Playway School play Holi with their teachers in Bathinda
A vendor sells Holi Colors in Jalandhar
Devotees participate in a religious procession at the Durgiana Temple in Amritsar
Girls celebrate Holi at a college in Ludhiana
Children carry water guns at a shop in Ludhiana
Children buy gulal and pichkari at Ram Bagh in Amritsar
Hola Mohalla
Holla Mohalla is celebrated a day after Holi in Punjab especially by the Nihang Sikhs.
The festival is celebrated with gusto at Anandpur Sahib for it was here that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last guru, instituted the pahul (baptism of the Khalsas), elected the panj pyare (the beloved five), and militarized his followers into the order of Nihangs (warrior-mendicants).
This festival of the Nihangs held at their headquarters Anandpur Sahib began as a counterpart to Holi. Though it almost did away with the throwing of colors, nonetheless, it is more colorful.
Martial arts like archery, sword fencing, fancy horse-riding, tent-pegging, and the deft handling of other contraptions of offence and defense are displayed by the Nihangs. Spectacular and thrilling acts of dare-devilry dexterously executed are performed.
The festivities close with a ceremonial procession taken through the township starting from Takth Keshgarh Sahib. Dressed in a long tunic of bright deep blue, an elaborate turban, sometimes of enormous size, at times banded with strips of bright yellow, armed with weapons of one’s liking – bows and arrows, spears, swords and shield, muskets, guns or what have you – the Nihang displays his skills at this festival of valor, a pageant of the past.
The langar (community feast) is open through the day and lasts as long as there are any takers.