In pictures: Army hosts Sikh festival celebrations
- Image source, PA Media
Image caption, Maj Harj Singh Shergill poses for a photograph with powdered paint on his face during the Holla Mahalla Sikh military festival.
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- Published
The Army has hosted an event celebrating the Sikh military festival Hola Mohalla.
Shooting competitions, traditional Sikh martial arts and military games such as tug of war were showcased at Aldershot Garrison in Hampshire on Tuesday
The centuries-old festival is held in the spirit of fierce but well natured competition and aims to promote courage, preparation and readiness.
The three-day festival officially begins on Monday.
Together the words Hola Mohalla mean "mock fight".
The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji who held the first such mock fight event at sacred Sikh city Anandpur Sahib in February 1701.
To this day, thousands of Sikhs from all over the world still go to Anandpur Sahib to take part in Hola Mahalla events, which now include displays of martial artists using weapons, horse-riding, falconry and more.
Maj Dal Singh Virdee, a member of the Defence Sikh Network, which organised the event in Aldershot, told the BBC it was a way of "showcasing the Sikh military values, traditions and valour".
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