If we read Sikh history carefully, it is understood that the aim of all the Gurus from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Guru Gobind Singh Ji was to create a strong nation. To achieve this big goal, it was necessary to bring a change in the way of celebrating festivals in the society. There were many traditions in the festivals of that time which needed to be reformed.
With this thinking, Guru Gobind Singh Ji started celebrating India’s ancient and traditional festival Holi in a new and revolutionary form in the 17th century. He started the tradition of celebrating it as ‘Hola Mahalla’, so that the feeling of discipline and unity could be strengthened in the society.
Also read: Why does the first Holi take place in the city of Mahakal?
Restrictions during Mughal rule
During the Mughal rule, there were many restrictions on common Indians like riding horses, wearing turbans and possessing weapons. Guru Sahib broke these restrictions and made these activities the main part of the festival. He started this tradition in the Anandpur Sahib Fort to make the Sikhs adept in martial arts and weapons, so as to create a society that could protect the weak.
meanings of words
According to scholars, ‘Hola’ is an Arabic word which means ‘attack’ and ‘Mahalla’ is a Persian word which means ‘place of attack’. Guru Gobind Singh Ji not only gave it a name but also created such a confluence of devotion and power where along with the practice of weapons, recitation and kirtan of Gurbani was also made necessary.
War practice in Anandpur Sahib
The first Hola Mahalla was celebrated in the Holgarh Fort of Anandpur Sahib in the year 1700 AD. Here Guru Sahib divided his army into two groups and made them practice ‘guerrilla warfare’. In this strategy, one team would capture a certain place and the other would try to free it.
After the practice, the Diwan would be decorated and the winning team would be honored with a Siropa. The result of this tradition was that only 40 Sikhs bravely fought the huge Mughal army in the fort of Chamkaur.
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tradition of bravery
This festival is being celebrated with great pomp in Anandpur Sahib for more than 300 years. Even today, lakhs of people gather in this three-day program which starts a day before Holi.
Nihang Sikhs and other devotees perform amazing feats of horse riding, sword fighting and ‘Gatka’. Stories of the sacrifices of Guru Sahib and Sahibzadas are narrated in the decorated diwans of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, which fills new enthusiasm among the people.
This festival reminds us that the purpose of Guru Sahib’s order to take up the kirpan was not only to protect oneself but also to save the poor and the helpless.
Note: The things written in this news are based on religious and local beliefs. We do not confirm this.
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