Hola Mohalla festival: Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
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Hola Mohalla festival: Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

Each year, in early Spring, Nihangs from all over Punjab and beyond gather in Anandpur Sahib to celebrate the festival of Holla Mohalla. Dressed up in their finery with their horses groomed and decorated they proudly parade around the town with much pomp and ceremony.

Your Comments

Parmjit Singh from UK says:
Beautifully taken photograph - pure majesty!
06.07.2007 19:50
V Keunen from UK says:
Great show. Liked this picture so much that I bought it.
09.07.2007 06:48
Guruka Singh from USA says:
It's rare to see so much spirit, purpose and power radiate through a picture. Great job!
09.07.2007 12:06
arjan kaur from London says:
This photo is amazing, so much energy!
09.07.2007 13:20
Bhagwati from Oxford says:
I love this photo for it's colour and energy. Both portrays the majesty of the warriors.
09.07.2007 16:48
Nam Kaur from Santa Fe, NM says:
Wow! this one feels like it could have been taken thousands of years ago...
10.07.2007 12:25
Guru Kaur from London says:
I'm often asked which of my husband's photographs I like best. This is the only photograph in the Living Divinely exhibition I was present for. It was taken when we were living in Punjab in 1999, a few weeks before the Sikh Tercentenary celebrations that Baisakhi. It was one of the most extraordinary days of my life. We started out among the galloping procession of horses and Nihangs on foot. At one stage I was crushed in the crowd and Baba Nihal Singh, saw it happen from the vantage point of his horse and sent Hardyal Singh to pick me out of the crowd and place me in safety. The procession ended up on the parade ground for tent-pegging. It was as if a huge ball of electricity was rolling down the streets of the town. This river is just by the parade ground and I think that it has now dried up. In the background are the foothills of the Himalayas and Nanda Devi shrine on the top. The horses were fiery, as were the riders, most of whom were tanked up on the famous green Nihang drink. In the midst of all this Nick manoeuvred himself out of the pulsating mass and managed to stay still as the Nihangs ran and galloped past. By now I was on the parade ground and could suddenly catch glimpses of him there thigh deep in the filthy water. It was a totally timeless moment where history and the present merged into eternity. That feeling of exhilaration has remained with me, but nothing since has ever come close to its intensity. There was also this extraordinary feeling of being banded together, cohesively held together by some magic beyond our wildest imaginations. When I was on the parade ground a couple of Nihangs from Harian Belan whom I knew protected me from the frenetic horses if they got too close with deep brotherhood and respect. This photograph totally encapsulates all that I felt that day and still each time I see it the timeless moment wells up in me.
13.07.2007 13:22
Sevak Singh from USA says:
Power Majesty Glory and Devotion. This photo captures the timelessness of desire and intention as well as the excitement of total committment. The color and depth of field brings me right onto that field with the body of devoted ones. Wonderful and Beautiful, a greatly artistic photograph.
13.07.2007 15:25
Daljeet Singh Suri from INDIA says:
wow
25.11.2007 05:39
sim singh suri from new zealand says:
gr8!!!!!!!!!!!! khalsa raaj
05.03.2008 00:21
Jagandeep Singh from Barcelona says:
Akaaaal Waheguru
09.04.2008 09:15
Parvinder Singh from Delhi says:
That shows the Nihang Power .. just like a general leading an army. www.sikhtourism.com
16.04.2008 04:47
mohan singh from amritsar says:
nihal nihal nihal
04.08.2008 11:23
Ajaipal Singh from London says:
Gaj Ke Jaikara Gajavey Fateh Pavey Nihal Hojavey Kalgidhar Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji De Mann Nu Pavey Sat Sri Akaal, Gurbar Akal, Baankeean Faujan De Maliko Rakhnee Bird Baaney Di Laaj, Sodhi Sache Paatshah Jeeo Tera Khalsa Jape Akal Hi Akal... Degh Tegh Fateh! (Battle Cry)
17.09.2008 13:53

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