The Holla Mohalla festival is an important event on the Sikh calendar. During this festival, Sikhs have the opportunity to demonstrate their martial arts prowess in reenacted fights, which is believed to be beneficial for both their physical and mental health. In 1701, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh guru, hosted the first Holla at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. It celebrates the "Chardi Kala" or the positive state of the Khalsa. In Sikhism, Chardi Kala is the Punjabi phrase for wanting to preserve an eternal mental state of resilience, optimism, and joy; an acceptance that life ebbs and flows with difficulty and the ability to rise above it.
Holla Mohalla in Smethwick
The Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick, England hosted the first celebration of the festival in 2020. It is the largest gurudwara in western Europe. Despite bad weather, the Guru Nanak Gurdwara welcomed more than 500 people to the events on Smethwick High Street. The organizers of the gurudwara also made sure that hand sanitisers were available and that crowds were kept to a minimum around the activities to address the spreading coronavirus during the pandemic.
Joy, togetherness and devotion at their peak
The Granthi or the minister to the Guru began the procession by beating the Nagara (war drum) and reciting Ardas (prayer). The Gatka (the Sikh martial art) teams then took the lead in the Mohalla, which is a religious procession. As they made their way to the gurdwara, the high street was illuminated by a variety of coloured flares.
After this, the Gatka teams participated in competitive matches. During the matches, the crowds were amazed at the Sikh martial arts, and how the teams competed with great valour and strength. Gatka is a form of stick fighting where wooden sticks are used to simulate swords. The wooden stick is known by its Punjabi name, "gatka," which could have derived from the Sanskrit word "gada," which means mace.
In addition to the primary event of the day, which was a competition for the game of Gatka, other performances throughout the day included wrestling, simulated sword fights, acrobatic military drills, and turban tying.
According to Ryan Singh, the Gurdwara's events lead, the festival was all about providing a small taste of the grander celebrations in India. He also said, “The event was a full celebration of a big part of our calendar. We also wanted to help lift community spirits and give reassurance to everyone that the Gurdwara is here to support people during this uncertain time. Everyone needs to have some happiness and despite the greyness of this time, we hope the event added some colour to the day of those who attended.”
Many attendees also showed respect by participating in religious ceremonies at the gurudwara before the event began. They also took refreshments from the Langar Kitchen. Celebrating the vibrant side of Sikhism, people who attended the Holla Mahalla wore traditional clothes and took part in festivities with great fervour and devotion.