Hola Mohalla, (National Fair) Anandpur Sahib
 

90 km from Chandigarh. Mid-March immediately after the festival of Holi, The 10th Prophet of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singhji had started this fair in 1700-AD. To the traditional festival of the colours, Holi, he added spiritual and martial dimensions.The fair begins a few days before Holi & is marked by the congregation of Sikh from all over the State, who arrive on trucks and tractors. A large number of 'Langars' (community kitchen) offer free food to the poor and the rich alike. The day after Holi, called Hola, begins with the singing of the divine hymns in the ambrosial hours of very early morning.

With the dawning of the day the Nihangs called the Guru's beloved force and a colourful sects of the Sikhs come centre-stage. They still wear traditional robes and armour of blue and saffron colours and all steel. They tie conical rising double turbans inter-laced with steel chakras (quoits) and steel rosaries, a cutlass laughing at the waist and a sword. (Sometimes also a lance) clutched in the right hand. They take out a procession riding their stallions. When they reach the bed of an old seasonal river Charan Ganga they perform feats of martial valour such as riding, two horses with one foot on the back of each and a weight balanced on their heads, fencing and enacting of mock battles. The splendorous pageant strikes as a fascinating novelty.

Baisakhi
One of the most colourful festivals celebrated in Punjab. Baisakhi is a derivative of Vaishakha. After harvesting the winter crop, the farmers celebrate the beginning of another year. The day coincides with the solar equinox on the13th of April. There is boisterous dancing and loud joyous singing as the traditional folk dances of Punjab, called the Gidda and Bhangra, are performed. It is also the anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa Pantha. People gather in the evening around a bonfire to celebrate the harvest. History has recorded the execution by the Mughals, of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth guru of the Sikhs, on 11 November 1675, by the Mughals. In revolt against this injustice, his son Guru Govind Singh, who was also the tenth guru, was compelled to take up arms.
To initiate this important task, he selected the auspicious day of Baisakhi, by forming the order of the Khalsa. On the13th of April in 1699, at a meeting in a town named Anandpur in Punjab, the guru called upon his people to come forward to sacrifice themselves for the good of the group. Pin-drop silence met his appeal. He repeated the call, with the same response. The third time, a thirty-year-old man named Daya Ram Khatri stood up and volunteered. The guru took Daya Ram to a tent nearby and returned alone after some time, his sword dripping blood. He repeated his call for volunteers four more times.
The others who offered themselves were Dharm Das, a Jat from Delhi, Mokhan Chand, a washer man from Dwarka, Sahib Chand a barber from Bidar, and Himmat Rai, a water carrier from Jagannatha. Each of them went with him to the tent and every time he turned alone with his bloodied sword. The guru went to the tent yet again, this time for a long time. Here appeared followed by the five men, clad in saffron-coloured garments. The crowd was astonished to see the men alive. They sat on the dais made for the occasion, while the guru prepared water to bless them. In an iron vessel, he stirred the batasha that his wife, Mata Jitoji had put into water, with a sword called Khanda Sahib, while the congregation recited verses from their scriptures. The water was now considered the sacred nectar of immortality called amrita.
It was first given to the five volunteers, then drunk by the guru and later distributed to the crowd. All those present, irrespective of caste or creed, became members of the Khalsa Pantha. This was also a great step in national integration because society at that time was divided on the basis of religion, caste and social status. The concept of forming a group where the origin of the individual became irrelevant was considered a very radical step. Those who had offered their lives were christened the Panch Pyre. They were directed by the guru to wear five K's: Kesh or long hair, Kangha or comb, Kripan or dagger, Kachha or shorts and a Kara or bracelet. He discontinued the tradition of gurus and asked all Sikhs to accept the Grantha Sahib as their eternal guide. He urged them to come to him with their hair and beards unshorn to get baptised by the sword. The suffix Singh derived from the Sanskrit word singha meaning 'lion', was added to the name of all male Sikhs, while the women were to call themselves Kaur, assistants to the Singh. Guru gives Amrit to his brave voluntiers To pay tribute to this event, prayer meetings are organized in gurdwaras across the country.
The main celebration however, takes place in the gurdwara at Anandpur Sahib, where the order was formed. At about 4 o'clock in the morning, the Guru Grantha Sahib is ceremonially taken out from its resting chambers. After a symbolic bath with milk and water, it is placed on its throne. Priests call the Panch Pyre then chant the verses that were recited by the original Panch Pyre when the order was created. Called the Panch Bani, these prayers include the Jabji Sahib, Jap Sahib, Sudha Savahiye, Chow Payee Sahib and Anandpur Sahib. While the Panch Bani is being chanted, amrita is prepared in an iron vessel, as was done by Guru Govind Singh. Devotees sip the amrita five times and vow to work for the Khalsa Panth. At noon, after the ardas, the Karah Prasad is offered to the guru for his blessings. It is then distributed to the congregation.
They eat the prasad, before proceeding to participate in the guru ka langar. Believers perform kar seva. Shabads and kirtans are sung all daylong to honor Guru Govind Singh and the beloved five, the founders of the Khalsa Panth.

Baisaki National Fair (April),
Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda
It is another unique Punjabi fair, which tempers gay abandon with deep devotion. Dancing men and women, on the day of Baisakhi, emerge singing and dancing from the surrounding villages carrying a portion of the first harvest of wheat. Everyone is seen to be proceeding to the historical Gurudwara to make an offering of it. Calm descends every where when they approach the Gurudwara and make their offerings. Devotees from far off places run free kitchens here. The next day is taken over by the Nihangs and their awe-inspiring feats of the martial arts.

The Chhapaar Mela Village Chhapaar ( Ludhiana)
It is celebrated every September to propitiate, Guga or Goga-the Zahir Pir. He is described as the Lord of the snakes. Snake poison is neutralised by his grace and barren women are blessed with off springs. Thousands of devotees take Guga Pir in a procession, common participation of the people of different sects in this fair works it out as a unifying force.

Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan,
Devi Talab, Jalandhar
National Fair, every December. Started by Baba Harballabh in the memory of his Guru Swami Tulja Giri in 1875. It is the only music fair of its type in India and even abroad. The best of the country's exponents of instrumental and vocal music deem their careers incomplete unless they come and perform here. Also, great people from all walks of life look forward to attending this gathering.

Rural Sports, National Fair (February),
Kila Raipur, 6km from Ludhiana
This meet or the fair epitomises the special Punjabi bon homie and the spirit that never says die, ingenious for finding competition and pleasure from ordinary things of life. Bullock carts and other animal races, awe inspiring feats of strength and danger, the traditional wrestling, cock-fighting, kabbadi and jumps and races, the meet is wound up with the electrifying dances of the Punjab, the Gidha and the Bhangra.

Martyrs - Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev & Rajguru Fair.
The Fair to honour their memory is held on March 23rd every year at the site of the memorial in Ferozepur. Large gathering of people, here, is then addressed by freedom fighters and the leaders of Punjab and India who highlight the sacrifices these patriots have made to free India from the yoke of the British.

Prof. Mohan Singh Mela, Ludhiana
It is a unique fair of cultural confluence of Punjabi artists, writers and folk performers- kind of a feast which may, again, be called typically Punjabi. Alongside this cultural extravaganza noted writers and artists are honoured for their contribution to the promotion of Punjabi literature, language and culture.