Which of the following statements best describes the festival Hola Mohalla?
- AOption (a)
A festival of fire rituals
- BOption (b)
A rural harvest carnival
- COption (c)
A Sikh festival showcasing martial valor
- DOption (d)
A pilgrimage commemorating river
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Correct answer
A Sikh festival showcasing martial valor
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is A Sikh festival showcasing martial valor.
Key Points
- Hola Mohalla is a significant three-day Sikh festival tradition established by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in March 1701 at Anandpur Sahib.
- The term Hola is the masculine form of the feminine word Holi, while Mohalla refers to an organized procession or a military-style column.
- The primary objective of the festival was to strengthen the Sikh community by creating an occasion for military exercises and mock battles to prepare them against the Mughal Empire.
- It is celebrated annually in the lunar month of Chet, usually falling a day after the Hindu festival of Holi, shifting the focus from playing with colors to demonstrating physical strength and martial skills.
- The festivities culminate in a grand procession led by the Panj Pyaras, starting from Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five temporal seats (Takhts) of Sikhism.
Additional Information
- Martial Arts and Nihangs:
- The Nihang Sikhs, also known as the Akalis, are the main attraction of the festival, dressed in traditional electric blue robes and large turbans.
- They perform Gatka (a traditional martial art), tent pegging, bareback horse riding, and other feats of bravery and skill.
- Religious Observances:
- Besides martial displays, the festival includes Kirtan (spiritual music), Path (scriptural reading), and Langar (community kitchen), where people of all castes and creeds eat together.
- The festival reinforces the core Sikh values of equality, community service, and readiness to protect the oppressed.



















