|
Hyderabad, March 28 : As part of the Hola Mohalla celebrated a day after the Holi, the Sikh community took out two colourful Nagar Keertans (holy processions) on Thursday from Central Gurudwara Saheb Gowliguda, near Koti and another from Gurudwara Saheb Charmahal near High Court, Petlaburj.
The devotees who participated in the Hola Mohalla procession, smeared gulal and other colours against other and exchanged Holi greetings on the occasion.
Prabhandhak Committee of Gurudwara Saheb Charmahal, S Harminder SIngh (President), S Surender SIngh (Secretary) and S Dilbagh Singh (Chairman) said that as part of the Hola Mohalla festival, two mass 'Nagar Keertans', (Holy Processions) were be taken out on a grand scale on Thursday at around 4.30 pm from Central Gurudwara Saheb Gowliguda and another from Gurudwara Saheb Charmahal.
The procession from Central Gurudwara Saheb Gowligudal passed via Siddianber Bazar, Begum Bazar, Jumerath Bazar and reached Puranapul , Another procession Gurudwara Saheb Charmahal was taken out from Charmahal and passed via PTO, Petlaburj and reached Puranapul. These two processions joined together at Puranapul and from there they passed via Bahadarpura, Kishanbagh and reach Gurudwara Saheb Barambala Saheb, Sikh Chawniat at around 8.30 pm.
The procession was marked by the rendering of Shabad Keertans (Holy Hymns) by the Jatha Tera Jatha and Keerthani Jathas of men, women and youths. “Nishaan Saheban” (Flag bearers) were carried during the procession. The major attraction of the procession was the display of 'GATKA' a famous Sikh martial art forms and other breathtaking sword exercises all along the procession by special Gatka parties who will exhibit their Gatka skills.
Holla Mohalla is community festival of the Sikhs celebrated on a large scale in Punjab, mainly at Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib and was started by the tenth and last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singhji. Holla Mohalla marks a new year as per the Lunar Nanakshahai calendar of the Sikhs. It is a three day festival that is celebrated a day after Holi. Holla is the masculine form of the feminine Holi. Mohalla come from the Arabic root “hal” meaning alighting or descending.
Guru Gobind Singh started the festival of Holla Mohalla for the Sikhs to display their martial skills. The Nihang Sikhs arrive in large numbers from all around at the time of Holla Mohalla to Anandpur Sahib. | 
