NIHUNGS: A Westerner's View

[Akaali]

Nihangs: Three centuries of knighthood in the service of sikh faith

(April 1997)

With their touchy pride of warriors from another time, Nihangs Singhs are the last survivors of a secular tradition being threatened but India modernization. Single combats, perilous horse races, ritual beheading of goats: before the possible disappearance of its genuineness, we attended their big Hola Mohalla annual pilgrimage in Anandpur Sahib, in the Northwest of the country.

The white marble temple, crenellated and ornamented with domes, looked down upon the town with grandeur. Thousands of tents blew in the surrounding plain. Carried by the powerful stream of pilgrims, we went down the street. Agglutinated stalls re-echoed the penetrating looks of richly dressed bearded men paintings.

In a cacophony of religious hymns and harangues that were yelled by powerful loud-speakers, we came through a high stone porch. Was someone shooting a spectacular movie, with hundreds of walker-ons? Dress and properties looked in any case perfect. These hearty vigorous men, with an exuberant beard and moustache, sported splendid metal-bound turbans that all vied in heigth and ravishment.

Nothing was missed by these valorous soldiers of 17th century India, sporting a sword and a dagger at the belt. Spears, heavy metal-inlaid sticks, bows and arrows added to the atmosphere of a battle-eve. Even horses were period with their scarves, pompoms and small bells.

« Sat Sri Akal! » (« Immortal God is Truth! ») The shout flashed around the tent that was converted into a temple which immediate surroundings could only be walked-on barefoot. Suddenly, two male goats were brought, their hair glazing. A circle was formed. Incense fumes. A warrior get it still, as if hypnotizing it, and, in a sharp saber blow, sectionned its head! But... but were the cameras?

This was actually the most incredible thing: it was not a movie shooting! Welcome to the camp of the main group of Nihangs Singhs, this order of Knights that was founded in 1699 to fight the Moghol invaders. Of course, we had decided this trip to Anandpur Saheeb for them. We had been talked about strange proud men. But how could we have imagined such soldiers coming from another time? How would we have expected to find this blue tunic and the very same arms of their creator, tenth and last sikh guru Gobind Singh?

Two centuries before, this monotheist religion had been born as a syncretism between hinduism and islam. Its orthodox followers are easily recognizable: cutting absolutaly no hair, they wear a dagger, a copper wrist ring, a comb and trousers that are tightened before the knee. They are « lions » as their name Singh shows it. And Nihangs add to that, thanks to persian origins of their naming, the fierceness of « crocodiles ».

Our travel through the camp brought one surprise after another. In the bitter wreath of smoke erupting from the owen that had been dug in the earth, with their turbans letting only their eyes appearing, men were busy cooking the meals that were later served as an offertory to the pilgrims. Besides, in the rythm of heavy wooden punners, faithfuls were relaying in a ceaseless ballet to get their bowl filled up with a precious milky potion having a taste of sweetened a lmonds. Sikhs generally condemns any consumption of exciting substances but, here again, Nihangs didn’t care. Tradition made this communion compulsary. For « bhang », which is made primarily from cannabis, is said to give them strength and concentration. And the true spirited Nihang being one with his mount, even horses were gratified with this nectar on that Hola day.

Very near from this weird altar, a not less surrealist ceremony of allegiance was taking place. A ritual stop in the pilgrimage, an old wise man was receiving the respects of the faithfuls. Approaching one after the other, they were markedly bowing, touching his leg and letting a bank note. The palanquin, on which the white-beard jathedar was confortably laying among pillows, was quickly covered with money. The venerated « baba » counted it with care, giving not attention to the concert of praises. The blessing generally went over with the distribution of some sweets and grains of cardamon. But, sometimes, a brief conversation took place, in a secret murmur, from mouth to ear. And the pilgrim got away, his face lightened by happiness.

Just besides the temple-tent, this ceremony had a much more sophisticated organization. At the entrance of a small brick house, tradition and modernity were just clashing. For tumultuous warriors were joined by punjabi policemen, who were totally anachronistic with their submachine guns.

This jathedar, Baba Santa Singh, has been heading for more than three decades the Buddha Dal, the Veterans group which is the most important among the dozen nihang movements. If is entitled to such guard, its is also because he is much discussed among Sikhs. For he is accused of having « betrayed » the cause, by accepting money from the Indian government to reconstruct Amritsar Golden Temple. The assault against it, to dislodge the separatists, in 1984, led to the killing of Indira Gandhi by two of her sikh bodyguards. Recently, the uprising -that claimed more than 20,000 lives- got relatively calmed down but terrorist attacks still punctuate the life of Punjab, where Sikhs -about 2% of the total Indian population- are a majority.

Abruptly, a crazyness wind blew on these rough and sometimes brusque men. Borrowing to the Hindu tradition of Holi, that had been marked the day before, the fought with... colored powders! The festival was then living his most fun hour, with laughs echoing and beards getting red.

But it was time: the big parade had to begin, due to pay a tribute to the main sacred places of the second holiest sikh city. Again, the show was incredible! The 2,000 Nihangs, 200 of which on horses, moved off in a procession of severeal groups -each one behing his chief. Proudly riding his splendid white horse, one of these jathedars even had the privilege of having an aide refreshing him with a big fan. In front of him, the most trained soldiers vied in skill: sticks clashed, sabers and clubs with chains turned round and round in the air. « Sat Sri Akal! »

Walking on air, the million and a half of pilgrims that were massed in a guard of honor on both sides of the roads were repeating all together the slogan.

The day went off with its grand finale in a large field, where riders multiplied valors, pinning wheat bunches while at a gallop or riding, standing, two horses at the same time! A curtain of dust envelopped them.

The festival was getting to and end and, in the soft orange sunset, the first pilgrims were leaving Anandpur Saheeb. This small town of about 5,000 inhabitants was soon to live again peacefully. Alcool and tobacco, that had been forbidden during six days as they are strictly prohibited by sikhism, were about to reappear in the full light.

The morning after, we attended a very moving ceremony in front of the temple-tent: a few mature men and women were induced into the Buddha Dal. « Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa; Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh » (« The Pure Ones belong to God; Victory to God »), they repeated while receiving amrit, the sweet water of baptism. A bit further, the last ones were getting renewed their special permits to carry arms.

Forget about trying to find how many Nihands there are. Depending on the chief you talk to, the figures range from 20,000 to 600,000! But something is sure: this community is changing. It wouldn’t have been in the time of Guru Gobind Singh that we could have seen a Nihang checking the arterial pressure of an old man in a field, between carts and horses!

Even the horse, the supreme symbol of independence, is beginning to be replaced. When leaving, among the overcrowded trucks, carts and buses, we overtook of course riders. But also Nihangs riding a bicyle or driving a four-drive-wheel...

Will modernity eventually kill these Nihangs Singhs? « No! It is impossible that the tradition disappear! There will always be combats to fight », told us with a lot of conviction Baba Nihal Singh, jathedar of the Tarna Dal, the Youth Group. « Our way of life will last. »

Nevertheless, Nihangs are more and more numerous to get married and to settle. The first Western tourists are coming to the Hola Mohalla. Will it be soon necessary to shoot a movie with true walkers-on to remind the tradition of these braves among the pures?

[proud_to_be_singhni]

ummm come again?? beheading of goats...when was that in sikhi??!!!

sorry i'm just either slow on the uptake and missed something or what iz happening?!

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

bhang(weed), goat slaughter, bowing to a "jathedaar" for blessings....great. i'm not impressed. it is actually insulting to sikhi.

[Akaali]

lol

I tried to take the spirit from the article, but the last two posts have killed that too, or they just don't understand the POV of the author. @

[Jitty]

bhang(weed), goat slaughter, bowing to a "jathedaar" for blessings....great.  i'm not impressed.  it is actually insulting to sikhi.

145225[/snapback]

You may find this hard to believe but this is one of the biggest thing nihang singhs are known for.

Its a known fact that nihang singhs generally did not go in to battle until they had bhang.

Thay are also know for eating chatka meat and making sure they do Chandi Di // that paath everyday.

I know it doesn't feel like sikhi but the "traditions/rituals" thay have been carrying out have been going on almost since guru jis time.

[anjaan]

Khãlsã ji let me hear you say AKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!

:TH:

we be chilling with our homies soon! haha

[Sabre Sword]

bhang(weed), goat slaughter, bowing to a "jathedaar" for blessings....great. i'm not impressed. it is actually insulting to sikhi.

I second that.

The brave among the pure? i dont think they're that pure to begin with, i mean guru sahib goes against the consumption of intoxicants and meaningless rituals, one wonders why some or.. i dont know, the majority or nihangs dont acknowledge that.

The author is ill educated, calling the event of the 20,000 massacred after Dusht Ghandis death an "uprising".Factualy incorrect, it was government organised pograms.

And sant ji and the singhs in the temple in 1984 were Not sepratists.

[koonergs]

its not weed its actually cannabis grinded up,sugar added, sum ghee/butter and milk like you'd really see nihangs lighting a spliff?lol

[khalsaforce]

ummm come again?? beheading of goats...when was that in sikhi??!!!

sorry i'm just either slow on the uptake and missed something or what iz happening?!

145154[/snapback]

Veer jee i have been to hazur sahib overthere nihangs behead goats also and i ask one nihang why they do it, he replied "putra asi apni hatha di takat azmai di hai" we test our muscle power. So not for eating meat and who told the author that nihangs eat meat, i will beat that author up seriously, nothing like this happened. I WILL TRY TO GET MORE INFORMATION. dont worry and do you think nihangs would let their kids break the religion by drinking weed. its not weed its actually cannabis grinded up,sugar added, sum ghee/butter and milk like you'd really see nihangs lighting a spliff?lol.look at the picture below. Until Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh's time, the warriors of the Akal Sena had no distinguishing dress from other Sikhs. The only things that distinguished them from other Sikhs were the fact they practiced the arts of war, hunted, ate ‘Mahaprashad’ (meat) and used cannabis for strict military circumstances.

[randip singh]

ummm come again?? beheading of goats...when was that in sikhi??!!!

sorry i'm just either slow on the uptake and missed something or what iz happening?!

145154[/snapback]

Read some Sikh History!

Slaughter of Goats and other animals by Jatka is a very old Sikh tradition. Still done by a vast amount of Amritdhari and well as Nihung Sikhs in India.

The Cannabis issue is an old one. Cannabis in small doses is used in medicinal purposes. It can be used to calm nerves and stop cramps in muscles, all associated with Battle fatigue. In the time of Guru Gobind Singh ji the battles lasted from morning to dusk on many occaisions. Fatigue waas common so useage of such substances was permitted.

However, the use of Cannabis by Nihungs to the nth degree has become a bit of an embaressement. Among the side effects of Bhjang usage ver long periods is short term memory loss, paranoia, infertility.

Read A History of the Sikhs or The Sikhs by Patwant Singh.