Hola Mohalla — The Sikh Festival
Documentary Photography Project | Punjab, India
A documentary photography project on the Hola Mohalla festival, where Sikh identity, martial tradition, and collective ritual converge in a powerful expression of faith and community.
Celebrated each spring in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, Hola Mohalla draws thousands of Sikhs from across India and beyond. Families and devotees often travel for days to reach the holy city, using every possible means of transport — from buses and tractors to the backs of trucks — transforming the journey itself into a shared act of devotion.
At the heart of the festival are the legendary horses and the spectacular displays of horsemanship, mock battles, and martial performances that embody courage, discipline, and resilience. Yet Hola Mohalla is not only about spectacle. It is also, and above all, about community. During these days, pilgrims live side by side in vast camps, cooking, eating, and sharing together in an atmosphere of profound conviviality and brotherhood.
The festival unfolds as both pilgrimage and celebration, blending spirituality, culture, and tradition. Pilgrims gather for prayers, kirtan (sacred singing), and langar, the communal meal open to all, reflecting the Sikh values of equality, service, and collective belonging.
Beyond its vibrant colours and intense energy, Hola Mohalla emerges as a profound expression of Sikh culture — a space where strength and devotion meet, and where identity and resilience continue to thrive in the modern world.
