CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The Hola Mohalla festival will begin on March 16 this year at Kiratpur Sahib. Unlike the previous years, the annual festival will last for seven days this year due to lack of coordination between the apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee and the Nihang Sikh seminaries.
Every year, the Hola Mohalla festival lasts for six days with initial three days at Kiratpur Sahib and the last three days at Sri Anandpur Sahib. On the last day, a procession is taken out jointly by the SGPC and the Nihangs in the town.
On being contacted by the media, Budha Dal’s chief Baba Balbir Singh stated that the Nihang Sikh seminaries were bound to follow the tradition of concluding the Hola Mohalla festival a day after ‘Puranmashi’ (full moon).
However, the SGPC will take out the concluding procession on March 21 i.e. on the day of ‘Puranmashi’ (full moon).
SGPC appointed Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh claimed that the Nihangs would also participate in the procession to be taken out by the SGPC on March 21. “However, the Nihangs will take out a separate procession on the next day,” he added.
