Sikhs celebrate Holla Mohalla through blood donation camps

Anandpur Sahib, Mar 10 (ANI): The Sikh community, on Tuesday, celebrated the spring festival of 'Holla Mohalla' in a philanthropic way by organising a massive blood donation camp at holy town of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab.

The event organised under the aegis of Shri Akal Takht Sahib and Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), tried to create a new world record by roping in at least 25,000 units of blood in a single day.

Held in a huge makeshift tent, the camp was amply provided with various facilities.

A team of 5,000 volunteers, 3000 paramedics and 100 doctors came together at the camp, where more than 110 blood banks from across the country would be coming to collect the samples.

"We have just started and have collected around 1500 units of blood soar. Our aim is to collect 25,000 units and by the grace of God, we will be able to collect it by evening," said Jaswinder Singh, Organiser.

The donors also exclaimed that they were very delighted to donate blood at the camp.

"Donating blood at a blood donation camp is the greatest act of humanity and I'm very happy to be a part of it," said Harprit Singh, a donor.

Holla Mohalla coincides with Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, and commemorates the transformation of the Sikh community into a martial fraternity by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

It was in Anandpur Sahib, 90 kilometres from Chandigarh, that Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the Sikh Gurus, founded Khalsa Panth (Sikh order) in 1699 to counter the Mughal Empire during its heydays. (ANI)