HIGHLIGHTS
- Hola Mohalla established by Guru Gobindh Singh to demonstrate dueling skills
- Sikhs share food, company, songs at event
- Event draws thousands from across state
Livingston Sikhs hosted the community's annual Hola Mohalla event Sunday, drawing thousands from around the state to celebrate bravery and the religion's 10th leader Guru Gobindh Singh. [email protected]
March 27, 2016: LIVINGSTON - Rose petals rained down from a hovering helicopter Sunday, sprinkling hundreds of people gathered at the Gurdwara Sahib Temple on Peach Avenue.
“It’s part of the tradition,” said Gurpal Samra, a Livingston city councilman who helps organize the event.
Livingston Sikhs hosted the community’s annual Hola Mohalla event Sunday, drawing thousands from around the state to celebrate bravery and the religion’s 10th leader, Guru Gobindh Singh.
Samra said the event celebrates health and happiness, helping the needy and bringing people together.
Floats from Turlock and Sacramento joined a long processional to Livingston’s other Gurdwara, Guru Nanak Temple, on B Street. Livingston Gurdwara members flying flags – including the American flag, the California flag and religious flags – led the procession. Some swept the street ahead of the float that carried the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.
Hola Mohalla, which translates to “mock fight,” dates back to the 1700s, when Sikhs would march from town to town, demonstrating their fighting skills.
Manjit Sra, a longtime Livingston resident, said the festival is a way to bring people together.
“All the Sikhs around the world celebrate,” he said. “You see friends. There are reunions. It’s very popular.”
Harinder Grewal, a Democratic candidate for the 12th District Assembly seat, said Turlock Sikhs attended the celebration as a symbol of unity after Stanislaus Superior Court Judge John Freeland’s ruling in October, which said the temple’s board had illegally seized control of the temple. The board members remain in place as the case is appealed.
Grewal faced two restraining order petitions that claim he threatened people and was involved in a January brawl at the Sikh Temple.
“This shows the local Sikh congregation is united and strongly believes in a civil society,” Grewal said. “The Sikh congregation is so excited and thankful to the judicial system.”
Sra, who has attended the event since it began about 18 years ago, said it has grown over the years. The event demonstrates Sikh practices, such as offering free food and spreading peace, he said.
Said Sra: “It just gets bigger and bigger.”