Hola Mohalla !

[bsbk123]

HOLA MOHALLA !!!

"DUNIYA DI BOLI TE SINGHAAN DA BOLA

LOKAAN DI HOLI TE SINGHAAN DA HOLA

SIKHAAN NE GURU JI DA HUKAM KAMAUNA

HOLI NAHI ASSIN HOLA MOHALLA MANAUNA"

Hola Mohalla or Hola Mahalla or simply Hola is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet which usually falls in March. This follows the Hindu festival of Holi; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi. The word "Mohalla" is derived from the Arabic root hal (alighting, descending) and is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. But unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle color, dry or mixed in water, on each other, the Guru made Hola Mohalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles.

Together the words "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight". During this festivals, procession are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one gurdwara to another. The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701.

The foothills of the Shivaliks in Ropar district of Punjab's north-eastern region, especially around the historic townships of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib, have, since 1701 been playing host to Hola Mohalla. Recently, the Indian government accorded it the status of a national festival.

This annual festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and now replicated at other Gurdwaras worldwide was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of Holi at Anandpur Sahib. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the Mughal empire and the hill kings.

On this three-day grand festival, mock battles, exhibitions, display of weapons, etc are held followed by kirtan, music and poetry competitions. The participants perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters with real weapons), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses and various other feats of bravery.

There are also a number of Darbars where Sri Guru Granth Sahib is present and kirtan and religious lectures take place. On the last day a long procession, led by Panj Pyaras, starts from Takhat Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important Gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takhat (Keshgarh).

For people visiting Anandpur Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of sewa (community service). Raw materials like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women volunteer to cook and others take part in cleaning utensils and other manual tasks that need to be carried out. Traditional cuisine is served to the pilgrims who eat while sitting in rows on the ground.(Pangat).

The effect of colours used in holi is transitory.How should we celebrate holi?This is what GURU SAHIB JI says:

"HOLI KEENI SANT SEV

RANG LAAGA ATT LAAL DEV(1180)"

it means "I celebrate the festival of Holi by serving GOD(means by doing SIMRAN OF GOD i.e.WAHEGURU WAHEGURU WAHEGURU WAHEGURU WAHEGURU.) I am imbued with the deep crimson color of the Lord's Divine Love."

This is how we should celebrate holi.Not with those colours whose effect is transitory but we should imbue ourselves with d permanent colour of WAHEGURU JI'. s NAAM as this colour never fades.

GAURI,FIFTH MEHL

"RAAM RANG KADAE UTTAR NAA JAA-AE, GUR POORA JIS DE-AE BUJHAA-AE || 1 ||

HAR RANG RAATAA SO MANN SAACHAA, LAAL RANG POORAN PURAKH BIDHAATAA || 1 ||PAUSE||

SANTAI SANG BAIS GUNN GAA-AE TAAN KA RANG NA UTARAI JAA-AE || 2 ||

BIN HAR SIMRAN SUKH NAHI PAAE-AA AAN RANG FEEK-AE SAB MAAE-AA || 3 ||

GUR RANGE SE BHA-AE NEHAAL KAHO NANAK GUR BHA-AE HAIN DAEAAL || 4 || 72 || 141 ||(194)"

it means " The Lord's Love shall never leave or depart. They alone understand, unto whom the Perfect Guru gives it. || 1 || One whose mind is attuned to the Lord's Love is true. The Love of the Beloved, the Architect of Destiny, is perfect. || 1 || Pause || Sitting in SATSANGAT, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. The color of His Love shall never fade away. || 2 || Without meditating in remembrance on the Lord, peace is not found. All the other loves and tastes of Maya are bland and insipid. || 3 || Those who are imbued with love by the Guru become happy. Says Nanak, the Guru has become merciful to them."

it means "One is dyed in the color of the Lord's Love, by great good fortune. This color is never muddied; no stain ever sticks to it.||1||

"HAR CHAAREOO RANG MILAI GUR SOBHAA HAR RANG CHALOOLAI RAANGAA

JAN NANAK TIN KE CHARAN PAKHAARAI JO HAR CHARANI JAN LAAGAA(985)"

it means " Meeting with the Blessed Guru(BABA NANAK), one is dyed in the color of the Lord's Love, imbued with this deep crimson color. Servant Nanak washes the feet of that humble being, who is attached to the feet of the Lord."

"BISAM BISAM BISAM HI BHAEE HAI LAAL GULAAL RANGAARAI

KAHO NANAK SANTAN RAS AAEE HAI JION CHAAKH GOONGA MUSKAARAI(1302)"

it means " I am wonder-struck, wonder-struck, wonder-struck and amazed, dyed in the deep crimson color of my Beloved. Says Nanak, the Saints savor this sublime essence, like the mute, who tastes the sweet candy, but only smiles."

"SAAEEN NAAM AMOL KEEM NAA KOI JAANDO

JINNA BHAAG MATHAA-HAE SE NANAK HAR RANG MAANDO(81)"

it means " The Master's Name is Priceless; no one knows its value. Those who have good destiny recorded upon their foreheads, O Nanak, enjoy the Love of the Lord."

"JIN KAO SAADHU SANG NAAM HAR RANG TINNI BRAHAM BEECHAAREYA JIO(81)"

it means " Those who join the Saadh Sangat are imbued with the Lord's Love; they reflect and meditate on God. "

"JAN NANAK NAAM DHEAAE-AA RANG RATRAA HAR RANG RATT(82)"

it means "Servant Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord; He is dyed in the deep crimson color of the Lord's Love."

"AAPE RANGE SEHAJ SUBHAA-AE

GUR KAI SHABAD HAR RANG CHADAA-AE

MANN TANN RATTA RASNA RANG CHALOOLI BHAE BHAA-AE RANG CHARHAAVANE-AA(114)"

it means " He Himself imbues us with His Love, with effortless ease. Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, we are dyed in the color of the Lord's Love. This mind and body are so imbued, and this tongue is dyed in the deep crimson color of the poppy. Through the Love and the Fear of God, we are dyed in this color."

"AAPE RANGE RANG CHADAA-AE

SE JANN RAATE GUR SHABAD RANGAA-AE

HAR RANG CHADEAA ATT APAARAA HAR RAS RAS GUNN GAAVANE-AA(117)"

it means " The Lord Himself dyes us in the color of His Love. Only those who are steeped in the Word of the Guru's Shabad are so imbued with His Love. Imbued with the most beautiful color of the Lord's Love, they sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, with great pleasure and joy."

"GURMUKH RANG CHALOOLEAA RANG HAR RANG RAATI(138)"

it means " The Gurmukhs are imbued with the deep crimson color of the poppy; they are dyed in the color of the Lord's Love."

"GURMUKH RANG BHAE-AA ATT GOORHA HAR RANG BHEENI MERI CHOLI(168)"

it means "As Gurmukh, I have been dyed in the deep and lasting color of the Lord's Love. The robe of my body is drenched with His Love. "

"RANG RATTRE MANN KARHALE HAR RANG SADA SAMAAL

HAR RANG KADAE NA UTAARAI GUR SEVA SHABAD SAMAAL(235)"

it means "You are engrossed in pleasures, O camel-like mind; dwell upon the Lord's lasting love instead! The color of the Lord's Love never fades away; serve the Guru, and dwell upon the Word of the Shabad(i.e.WAHEGURU WAHEGURU WAHEGURU...)"

"GUNN GAAVAT ACHUT ABINAASHI ANDIN HAR RANG JAAGAA(616)"

it means "Singing the Glorious Praises of the immovable and imperishable Lord, one remains awake to the Lord's Love, day and night."

JAAN KO HAR RANG LAAGO ES JUG MEH SO KAHIAT HAI SOORA

AATAM JINHAI SAGAL VAS TAAN KAI JAAN KA SATGUR POORA ||1||

THAAKUR GAAEE-AE AATAM RANG

SHARANI PAAVAN NAAM DHEAAVAN SEHAJ SAMAAVAN SANG || PAUSE ||

it means " He alone is called a warrior, who is attached to the Lord's Love in this age. Through the Perfect True Guru, he conquers his own soul, and then everything comes under his control. || 1 || Sing the Praises of the Lord and Master, with the love of your soul. Those who seek His Sanctuary, and meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, are blended with the Lord in celestial peace."

"SAADHSANG JAAN KAO HAR RANG LAAGAA

DHAN DHAN SO JAN PURAKH SUBHAGAA

EET OOT JANN SADA SUHELE

JANAM PADAARATH JEET AMOL-AE(792)"

it means " Blessed, blessed is the most fortunate servant of the Lord, who is imbued with the Lord's Love, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. Here and there, the humble servants of the Lord are always happy. They win the priceless treasure of this human life."

"HAUMAI MAAR KARO GUR SEVA JAN NANAK HAR RANG BHEENA HE(1028)"

it means "Subdue your egotism, and serve the Guru; O servant Nanak, you shall be drenched with the Lord's Love."

"SATSANGAT KI REN MUKH LAAGI KEE-AE SAGAL TEERATH MAJNEETHA

KAHO NANAK RANG CHALOOL BHA-AE HAIN HAR RANG NA LAHAI MAJEETHA(1212)"

it means " I anoint my forehead with the dust of the Society of the Saints; it is as if I have bathed at all the sacred shrines of pilgrimage. Says Nanak, I am dyed in the deep crimson color of His Love; the Love of my Lord shall never fade away."

I think the post has become quite long...now I should stop...

IN THE END:

"NANAK TE JAN SOHANE JE RATTE HAR RANG LAA-AE(1380)"

it means "O Nanak, those humble beings are beautiful, who are imbued with the Lord's Love."

SO WHY NOT BECOME ONE OF THOSE SOHNE JAN...GET INBUED IN GOD'S LOVE(RANG) WHICH NEVER FADES BUT KEEPS GETTING DARKER & DARKER & DARKER...

"EH MANN ROORHE RANGULE TU SACHA RANG CHADAA-AE

ROORHI BAANI JE RAPAI NA EH RANG LAHAI NA JAA-AE(427)"

it means " O beauteous and joyful mind, imbue yourself with your true color. If you imbue yourself with the Beauteous Word of the Guru's Bani, then this color shall never fade away. "

"BIN GUR KOI NA RANGI-AE GUR MILE-AE RANG CHADAAO

GUR KAI BHAE BHAA-AE JO RATTE SIFTEE-N SACH SAMAAO(427)"

it means " Without the Guru, no one is imbued with the color of the Lord's Love; meeting with the Guru, this color is applied. Those who are imbued with the Fear, and the Love of the Guru, are absorbed in the Praise of the True Lord."

waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh jio

[KKV]

so this wha relli happen on Hola Mohalla vale'h den?