E-Paper
Hola Mohalla festival concludes at Anandpur Sahib
The annual Hola Mohalla celebrations concluded at Anandpur Sahib on Friday with religious processions (Mohalla) by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Nihangs.
The annual Hola Mohalla celebrations concluded at Anandpur Sahib on Friday with religious processions (Mohalla) by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Nihangs.
The SGPC procession, led by Panj Piaras (five beloved), started from Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib after the bhog of Sri Akhand path and passed through main streets of the town before culminating at Gurdwara Jeetoji.
Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Mal Singh, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Gurmukh Singh, and Harmandar Sahib head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh also participated in the procession.
Various sects of Nihangs, including Budha Dal and Taruna Dal, also participated in the procession. However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar was conspicuous by his absence.
Attired in a traditional battle gear, the Nihangs, many of whom were riding on horses, sprinkled gulal on one another and displayed martial arts skills like 'gatka' throughout the route of the procession. They also displayed skills in other martial arts at Charan Ganga stadium which was witnesses by thousands of devotees.
The Nihang organisations, however, have expressed their unhappiness over the alleged indifference of the state government towards construction of a proper stadium at Charan Ganga. These organisations have urged the government to construct the stadium before the 350th foundation day of Anandpur Sahib falling in June this year.
Lakhs of devotees from the country and abroad visited Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib during the six-day festival.
Meanwhile, Rupnagar deputy commissioner Tanu Kashyap thanked the devotees for their cooperation in the smooth and peaceful conclusion of the Hola Mohalla.
