Important Festivals /Melas of the District
Holla Mohalla of Anandpur Sahib
Holla Mohalla of Anandpur Sahib
The Hola Fair, popularly known as Hola Mohalla, is a unique event held every year at Anandpur Sahib on the day following the Holi Festival. Thousands of devotees from various parts of the country throng to Anandpur Sahib to participate in the fair which lasts for three days. The Gurudwaras are specially decorated for the occasion. During Hola Mohalla Anandpur Sahib wears a festive appearance and hums with activities in the month of March every year. Community conferences and religious functions are also organized.
On this occasion, Nihangs from all over the country gather for the celebrations of the Hola Mohalla. The highlight of the festival is a huge procession by the Nihangs, clad in their traditional dress and weapons, on the last day of the fair. The procession starts from the headquarters of the Nihangs, opposite Gurudwara Anandgarh Sahib, and passing through the bazar goes to village Agampur and reaches the fort of Holgarh, the place where Guru Gobind Singh used to celebrate this fair. Thereafter, the procession proceeds to the sandy bed of Charan Ganga, where demonstration of martial games including riding, tent pegging, sword wielding etc. are witmessed by a large number of people.
Shaheedi Jor Mela and Dushehra of Chamkaur Sahib
Chamkaur Sahib is another religious and historical place, which falls in this district. Here Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji along with his two elder sons and 40 followers had come from Kotla Nihang. The Gurudwara Katalgarh Sahib, occupies a unique place among all the religious places located at Chamkaur Sahib. It is built at the site where Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jhujjar Singh, elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh along with their followers fell while fighting against the Mughal army.
A big fair known a Sheheedi Jor Mela lasting for three days is held in the month of December at Chamkaur Sahib to commemorate the martyrdom of the elder sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Religious dewans are also organized.
Dushehra festival at Chamkaur sahib is also celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people of the area.
Shaheedi Jor Mela of Sarsa Nangal, Kotla Nihang and Morinda
Every year during the month of the December Shaheedi Jor Mela are also held at Gurudwara Pariwar Vichhora Sahib at bank of river Sarsa at Sarsa nangal, Gurudwara Bhatha Sahib at Kotla Nihang and Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj at Morinda in the memory of sons of Tenth Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Besides this religious dewans are also organized . The sacrifice of sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji is celebrated in the shape of Jor Mela, when lakhs of devotees visit these places.
Shivratri Fair Jatwahar
Shivratri fair is held every year in the district at Jateshwer Mahadev Temple at Jatwahar village in Nurpur Bedi Block and Shiv Ashram Mojowal near Nangal .
Popularly known as Shiv Mandir Jatwahar, it is an ancient temple of the times of Mahabharata and is situated on Rupnagar -Nurpurbedi road about 5 KMs form village Bains. The temple is held in great reverence and is visited by the devotees from various parts of Punjab and also from the adjoining states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Shiv Mandir, Mojowal is situated on Nangal-Bhalan road.