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The Guru made Hola Mahalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles. In Anandpur Sahib, the festival lasts for three days. However, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708) held the first march at Anandpur on Chet vBk (22 February 1701) and therefore festivities start before the second of Chet. Holi, when people playfully sprinkle colored powders, dry or mixed in water, on each other on the first day of Chet was given a new dimension by establishing Hola to be celebrated a day after. Mahalia, is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column accompanied by war drums and standard-bearers, and proceeding to a given location or moving in state from one place to another. Hola Mahalla is a Sikh event which takes place on the second day of the lunar month of Chet, which usually falls in March. The alternative view is that the practice of throwing colours was not observed by Guru Gobind Singh. Sikh tradition holds that Guru Gobind Singh also participated in the colourful festival with the use of gulal which has survived into modern times with Nihangs "splashing gulal (red farinaceous powder) on each other and the audience".
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Colours Īccording to Guru Gobind Singh's court poet Bhai Nand Lal, colours were thrown by the participants after completion of the mock battles: rose water, amber, musk and saffron-coloured water was used. According to Singh (2018), "during the celebrations of Hola Mohalla a sword is most in demand at Nanded, since each participant in the procession (jaloos) must have it in his hand". The new tradition of overseeing mock battles and poetry contests at Lohgarh Fort has since spread from the town of Anandpur Sahib to nearby Kiratpur Sahib and the foothills of the Shivaliks, and to other Gurdwaras around the world. However, Guru Gobind Singh organised the first procession accompanied by drums in Anandpur on 22 February 1701 A.D. Similarly, Cole (1994) states that Guru Gobind Singh summoned his followers to attend Anandpur on Holi when he introduced a new rally in 1680 to coincide with Holi where his followers could practice manoeuvres and combat training. According to Thompson (2000), Guru Gobind Singh established Hola Mohalla in 1680. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru built upon the story of Prahlad and founded the festival of Hola Mohalla. The Guru Granth contains verses reciting Prahald by the saints Namdev and Kabir, and also by the third Guru Amar Das. According to Lorenzen(1996), the story of Prahlad was popular with the early Sikhs. Harnaksh, the King of Multan, was defeated by good in the form of Prahlad. The event gave rise to the belief that good triumphed over evil. Holka thought she would be protected by a cloth but it was Prahald who survived and Holka perished in the fire. She took him in her lap, sat in the midst of a heap of easily combustible straw". According to Gandhi (2007), "in order to please her brother, Holka planned to burn Prahlad.
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The festival also has roots in the story of the child bhagat, Prahlad who would not accept his father, Harnakash, as god. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji built upon this method of celebrating Holi by adding a martial element and creating Hola Mohalla to be celebrated a day after Holi.
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As Holi starts with Holika Dahan on the full moon night of Phagan or Phalgan, the festival of Holi is referred to as the festival of Phalgun even though the actual day of Holi falls on the first day of the lunar month of Chett. The colours of Holi manifest in the Lord's love. The Guru Granth Sahib contains passages prescribing the celebration of Holi by serving God. Hola Mohalla builds upon the Spring festival of Holi. Hola Mohalla festival and sports, Anandpur Sahib Punjab India The event concludes on the day of Hola Mohalla with a long, "military-style" procession near Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs. For meals, which is an integral part of the Sikh institution ( Gurdwara), visitors sit together in Pangats (Queues) and eat vegetarian food of the Langars.
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The fair held during Holi and Hola at Anandpur Sahib is traditionally a three-day event but participants attend Anandpur Sahib for a week, camping out and enjoying various displays of fighting prowess and bravery, and listening to kirtan, music and poetry. Hola Mohalla is a big festive event for Sikhs around the world. Hola Mohalla, also called Hola, is a three day long Sikh festival which normally falls in March and takes place on the second day of the lunar month of Chett, a day after the Hindu spring festival Holi but sometimes coincides with Holi. Three-day fair at Shri Anandpur Sahib ending on Hola Mohalla day (Usually March) The Khalsa celebrating the Sikh festival Hola Mohalla or simply Hola.