It’s been more than a year since I posted any article on this blog. Although I was busy learning new things in life, I tried to make a few videos for YouTube, and wrote on Twitter/X over the past year. Most of the points of Right-wing were debunked on Twitter. But I believe videos and articles are the best way to preserve things, and people can quickly find them when needed. On the other hand, Tweets get lost into oblivion after a month or two, if you post every day with long threads, which isn’t the case with me anyway. There were some articles which I had written but couldn’t have them posted for various reasons. Apologies if you miss reading the articles here!
Hola
People have claimed in recent years that the word Hola was the manipulation/creation of the Singh Sabha Movement1. This set of people are those who deny the distinct identity of Sikhs and try to merge it with Hinduism. They say Holi was the Hindu festival and the Sikh Gurus continued it during their time, and Hola or the marching of the Sikh forces for battle is a recent event. When one looks into history, we find evidence of the activities and the word Hola.
First, we have the Sau Sakhi, a scripture originally written in 1734 AD, but changes were made in it over the years. The historians place it in 18th century. The word Hola is mentioned in it2.
ਏਕ ਬੇਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਬੈਠੇ ਥੇ, ਤਾਂ ਹੋਲਾ ਕੀਆ ।
Once the Guru was sitting, the Hola was done/celebrated.
The story continues where the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji, talks about the reason behind starting the festivals, and how some people couldn’t get their boons. Bhai Santokh Singh extensively used Sau Sakhi in his Gurpratap Suraj Granth. This story finds its place in his work too, completed in 1843 AD.
Second, we have the Rehatnama Bhai Daya Singh3, completed in 18th century.
ਵੈਸਾਖੀ ਦੀਪਮਾਲਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਕਰੇ, ਹੋਲਾ ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਕਰੇ,
ਅਬਚਲ ਨਗਰ ਜਾਇ ਕੁਲ ਸੰਬੂਹ ਤਰੇ ।
Celebrate Vaisakhi and Deepmala at Amritsar, Hola at Anandpur,
Go to Abhchal Nagar (Nanded Sahib), the lineage would be liberated.
Third, Swarup Singh Koshish’s Gur Kian Sakhia. This scripture is based on Bhatwahi, and a great number of sakhis are present in it. Pyara Singh Padam believed it’s the second half (utrarad) of the scripture, and its first half (purbarad) isn’t available to us4. It described all the activities performed by the Guru and the Sikhs, from mock battles to playing Holi.
ਅਗਲੇ ਦਿਵਸ ਚੇਤਰ ਵਦੀ ਏਕਮ ਕੇ ਦਿਹੁ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਪਹਰ ਸ਼ਸਤਰ ਵਿਦਿਆ ਦੇ ਕਰਤੱਵ ਤੇ ਘੋੜ ਦੌੜ ਹੋਈ । ਇਹ ਨਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਦੇਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਥਾ । ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਕੇ ਪੂਛਨੇ ਸੇ ਇਸ ਦਿਹੁੰ ਕਾ ਨਾਮ ‘ਹੋਲਾ ਮਹੱਲਾ’ ਰੱਖਾ । ਇਹ ਦਿਹੁੰ ਪਰ ਸਾਲ ‘ਚੱਕ ਨਾਨਕੀ’ ਮੇਂ ਮਨਾਇਆ ਜਾਨੇ ਲਾਗਾ ।37।
Next day, on Chet wadi 1, the mock battles and horse-riding activities were performed in the evening. This sight was worth seeing. When the Sikhs asked about this day, its name was called as ‘Hola Mahalla’. This day, every year, the festival was celebrated in Chak Nanaki (Anandpur Sahib5).
Fourth, Bhai Santokh Singh’s magnum opus.
ਪੁਰਿ ਅਨੰਦ ਆਨੰਦ ਬਿਲੰਦ੍ਯੋ । ਜਹਿਂ ਜਹਿਂ ਗਾਵਹਿਂ ਗੁਰ ਪਦ ਬੰਦ੍ਯੋ ।
There was bliss in Anandpur Sahib. Praises of the feet of the Guru were sung everywhere.
ਚਲਿ ਆਯਹੁ ਹੋਲੇ ਕਉ ਮੇਲਾ । ਚਹੁਂ ਦਿਸ਼ਿ ਤੇ ਨਰ ਭਏ ਸਕੇਲਾ ।।3।। …
Then came the festival of Hola. People from four directions came (to Anandpur Sahib6).
ਇਸ ਬਿਧਿ ਕੇਤਿਕ ਮਾਸ ਬਿਤਾਏ । ਫਾਗਨ ਮਹਿਂ ਸਿਖ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਆਏ ।
Like this, many months passed. Then in the month of Faggan, Sikhs came for the darshan of the Guru.
ਹੋਲਾ ਕਿਯੋ ਆਨ ਤਿਸ ਕਾਲਾ । ਗ੍ਯਾਨੀ ਧ੍ਯਾਨੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਬਿਸਾਲਾ ।।15।।
They celebrated Hola at that time. There were many Gyani and Dhayani Sikhs among them7.
Fifth, the work of R Leech. He wrote in 1845 AD about the Sikh holidays, their prayers, and shrines. While writing the Sikh holidays, he mentioned Hola, along with Baisakhi, Diwali, Dushehra, Maghi, joti-jot diwas of first and the last Sikh Gurus, and Basant Pachmi.
The Hola, (Holee) ; the last day of Phagan8.
He further states that Holgarh is a place associated with the tenth Guru where he played Holi.
Holgurh ; where he played the Holee9.
At last, we have the work of Baba Sumer Singh – Shri Gur-pad Prem Parkash. His father asked him to write about the life of the Guru in 1866 AD10. He differentiated the Holi and Hola in his work.
ਰਿਤੁ ਬਸੰਤ ਇਤਨੇ ਮੈ ਆਈ ।। ਹੋਰੀ ਕੀ ਤਯਾਰੀ ਕਰਵਾਈ ।। ਕਹਯੋ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨਿਧਿ ਬਚਲ ਅਮੋਲਾ ।। ਔਰਨ ਕੀਹੋ ਹੋਲੀ ਮਮ ਹੋਲਾ ।। ਸਜ ਸਜ ਸਭ ਸਾਮਾਨ ਸੂਰ ਬਰ ।। …
The season of Basant came. Preparation of Holi was done. The Guru said the precious words. Others do Holi, I Hola. The fighter (Sikhs) got ready (with the weapons)11.
ਭਯੋ ਮਹੱਲਾ ਹੋਲਾ ਕੋ ਫਿਰ ।। ਭਾਂਤ ਭਾਂਤ ਕੋ ਰਸ ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ ।।
Then came the Hola Mahalla. People did many things at Anandpur12 (Sahib).
People have selectively quoted the lines where the word Holi was written. There is no doubt about the presence of the Holi word in the Sikh historical scriptures. But its mentioning is limited to throwing colours. During the Hola Mahalla, colours were part of the festival, not festival itself. Historical scriptures have a long presence of the activities performed by the Sikhs during the Hola Mahalla. From the singing of the Gurbani to different rags13 to mock battles to playfully throwing colours.
The festival of Holi which’s said to be celebrated by the Guru is rejected by him. He said the Hindu festivals, Diwali and Holi, were celebrated by them with illicit acts. On the other hand, the one that he celebrated didn’t have something similar. He emphasized on the importance of bhagti. That’s the reason we find the Gurbani-kirtan being sung during the Sikh festivals, which’s the essence of any festival in the Sikh religion. Bhai Santokh Singh’s work has a clear indication of that.
ਹਿੰਦੁਨਿ ਕੇ ਦਿਨ ਹੋਲਿ ਦਿਵਾਲੀ । ਇੱਤ੍ਯਾਦਿਕ ਦਿਨ ਚਲਹਿਂ ਕੁਚਾਲੀ ।।27।।
Hindus festivals are Holi and Diwali. In these days illicit acts were performed.
ਬਿਨਾ ਲਾਜ ਤੇ ਹੁਇ ਨਰ ਨਾਰੀ । ਕਰਹਿਂ ਖਰਾਬਾ ਕਾਢਤਿ ਗਾਰੀ ।
Men and women forget the modesty. They swear and do awful things.
ਸਿੱਖਹੁ! ਸੁਨਹੁ ਬਾਤ ਇਹ ਸਾਰ । ਜਿਨਹੁਂ ਬੰਦਗੀ ਕਿਯ ਕਰਤਾਰ ।।28।।
Oh Sikhs! listen to the crux of the matter. Those who have done the bhagti of Kartaar.
ਹਲਤਿ ਪਲਤਿ ਸੇ ਸੁਖੀ ਬਡੇਰੇ । ਜੀਤ ਗਏ ਭਵਜਲ ਨਹਿਂ ਫੇਰੇ ।
They live in peace on earth and heaven. They win this world and get liberated14.
1 W. H. McLeod didn’t leave behind with his speculations around the word Hola. See Hola Mahalla in The A to Z of Sikhism, W. H. McLeod, page 128, 2009
2 Prachin So Sakhi, ed. Pyara Singh Padam, page 91, 1995
3 Rehatnaame, ed. Pyaara Singh Padam, Page 79, 1991
4 Guru kia sakhia, Swarup Singh Koshish, ed. Pyara Singh Padam, Page 10, 2008
5 Ibid, page 92
6 Gurpratap Suraj Granth, rut 3, adhyai 2
7 Gurpratap Suraj Granth, rut 3, adhyai 33
8 Journal of the Asiatic Society of the Bengal, R Leech, Page 394, 1845
9 Ibid, 396
10 Shri Gur-pad Prem Parkash, Baba Sumer Singh, ed. Dr. Achhar Singh Kahlon, page 1-2, 2000
11 Ibid, 119
12 Ibid, 126
13 Gurpratap Suraj Granth, rut 3, adhyai 2
14 Gurpratap Suraj Granth, rut 3, adhyai 33
