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Hundreds of Sikhs from across Italy and neighboring European countries gathered in the town of Cortenova in Bergamo to participate in historic Hola Mohalla celebrations, drawing attention from the local Italian community for the scale and vibrancy of the event.
For many Italians, a “Nagar Kirtan” procession organized by the Punjabi immigrant community in northern India was something “unique” and “unprecedented.” The display of traditional martial art “gatka” by Nihang Sikhs was described by observers as both “out of the world” and “awesome.”
Devotees traveled not only from different parts of Italy but also from Germany, France, Switzerland, and Spain to take part in the celebrations. The gathering highlighted the growing presence of the Punjabi diaspora in Italy and its cultural contributions to local communities.
Italy is home to a significant population of immigrants from Punjab. Many work in agricultural sectors, cheese processing factories, and other industries, gradually becoming an integral part of the social and economic fabric of their adopted country.
Their growing integration has also encouraged local Italians to participate in community events organized by their Punjabi neighbors, many of whom have since become naturalized citizens.
Cortenova, located in the Bergamo district of the Lombardy region, is one such area with a notable Punjabi immigrant population. Among them are members of the Nihang Sikh community, often referred to as the “Nihang Sikhs,” affectionately known as members of the “Ladli Fauj” (adorned army) of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Each year during the second week of March, Sikhs in Italy organize “Nagar Kirtan,” or a Sikh religious procession, as part of Hola Mohalla celebrations.
Prithipal Singh, a key figure in the Italian chapter of the World Sikh Soldiers Organization, noted that the festival has also attracted interest from the local community. “They love to play Holi and greet their near and dear ones with ‘gulal.’”
The three-day Hola Mohalla festival was celebrated with enthusiasm in Cortenova by members of the Nihang community. According to Prithipal Singh, the event has been organized by the Nihang Singhs in Italy for the past six years. In addition to devotees from Italy, participants also arrived from several European countries, including Germany, France, and England, to take part in the celebrations.
“If we talk about the number of devotees, then according to an estimate, “the number of devotees was between 30 and 35 thousand.”
Singh also noted that members of the local Italian community, including young people, actively participated in the festivities. They joined in applying colors on friends and family as part of the celebrations.
Prithipal Singh, Iqbal Singh Sodhi, Manjinder Singh, Gurmail Singh, and Jasvir Singh Parma from Gurdwara Singh Sabha Novolara were among those who joined the Nagar Kirtan procession. Along the route, volunteers set up stalls to serve Guru Ka Langar, the community meal offered to all attendees.
The Hola Mohalla celebrations also mark the beginning of a new Sikh year and continue to serve as an occasion for cultural exchange, community bonding, and the preservation of Sikh traditions among the diaspora in Europe.
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