Centuries-old Sikh military festival Holla Mohalla takes place at Sandhurst
The annual Sikh military festival Holla Mohalla has been celebrated for the fifth year at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
The centuries-old festival aims to promote courage, preparation, and readiness.
Organised by the Defence Sikh Network, the day involves the Army's Soldier Role Fitness Test (RFT) featuring a weighted run, tactical movements such as a simulated casualty drag and a vertical lift and carry.
This was combined with traditional Sikh military games and martial arts, finishing off with personnel throwing coloured powder, known as Rang, over each other.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Avtar Gill is from the 4th Battalion The Ranger Regiment and told BFBS Forces News: "I find the values base that I live on as a Sikh, they're very closely represented in the core values of the British Army." He noted in particular the value of 'selfless commitment'.
"We have the same service that we conduct as Sikhs, called Seva, and that's service to others and so I find it's rather mirrored."
WO2 Gill told BFBS Forces News he was apprehensive about joining aged 17, not knowing how people would receive him, but says he found joining the British Army came with "a huge amount of acceptance, a huge amount of tolerance, a huge amount of interest as well, which I found the most brilliant piece; that people were actually excited to know what Sikhs do, their faith, the history of Sikhs in service".
A relationship of shared values
The Colonel Commandant of Sandhurst, Major General Nick Cowley, thanked the Sikh Defence Network for creating "a really special day", adding: "the history of Sandhurst and the history of [the] British Army and India, and the Sikhs could not be more connected".
"With all of the challenges and threats out there, this is a critical moment to make sure we are absolutely bringing the best from across Britain and the Commonwealth into the British Army. I've already been given my homework to do today to look at how do we promote that," he added.
"I honestly cannot think of a more important thing to be doing right now than serving in the British military.
"There are choppy waters ahead, and we're going to need really well-trained, really committed soldiers and officers espousing the best of the values and standards of the British Army."
A legacy of service
The event celebrates the tradition of Sikhs in the British Army, whose service dates back to the 1800s.
Traditional Sikh martial arts were performed by a group of Nihang Singh Warriors, representing the warrior spirit within the Sikh community, distinguishable by their blue robes and turbans.
The group's leader Navjeet Singh told BFBS Forces News: "Being here with the Sikh Defence Network really kind of ensures that there's that relationship between the traditional form of the Sikh warriors and the modern-day form within the British Army.
"So what stands out is coming to Sandhurst and understanding the history of this this institution and this academy and hearing about some of the history of the Sikhs who enlisted in World War One and World War Two."
Victor Duleep Singh, the eldest son of the former Maharaja of Punjab, Maharaja Duleep Singh, joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 1887.
He went on to serve in the 1st Royal Dragoons, having gained special dispensation to join the Army from his godmother, Queen Victoria.
More than 84,000 Sikhs died and over 100,000 were injured during both World Wars.
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