Hola Mohalla ਹੋਲਾ ਮਹੱਲਾ
Hola Mohalla is the Sikh festival of martial skill held at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the day after Holi. Guru Gobind Singh Ji began it as a day of mock battles and poetry.
| Year | Occasion | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hola Mohalla (Chet Vadi 1) | |
| 2027 | Hola Mohalla (Chet Vadi 1) |
Calculated for Amritsar. SGPC and government announcements take precedence.
How the date is fixed
Hola Mohalla falls on Chet Vadi 1, the day after the full moon of Phagun (Holi). The main mela at Anandpur Sahib runs for about three days and ends on this date.
Origins
Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the Holi season a new form in 1701. Instead of throwing colours, the Sikhs were divided into two sides that practised drills and staged mock battles. The day ended with poetry competitions. The word mohalla suggests an organised procession or army column.
What you will see
- Nihang Singhs in blue with tall dumalas, on horseback, showing gatka and tent-pegging
- A procession from Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib to Qila Anandgarh and other gurdwaras
- Kirtan and dhadi darbars
- Langar run by hundreds of volunteer groups along the roads into Anandpur Sahib
Visiting
Anandpur Sahib is about 85 km from Chandigarh. Traffic is heavy through the mela week. Holi and Hola Mohalla appear together in the Punjab Government's gazetted holiday list.
Questions
Is Hola Mohalla the same as Holi?
No. It falls the day after Holi and is a Sikh festival of martial display and poetry started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji.